Conservation of Wild Pollinators for
Agricultural Production in Afica
Barbara Gemmill, University of Nairobi, Department of Botany and
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Alfred Ochieng, University of Nairobi, Department of Botany and
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
Dino Martins, Nature Kenya
Hannah Nadel, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology
Pamela Rhys-Hurn, Environment Liaison Centre International
Some Horticultural Crops Grown in Africa Which May Require or
Substantially Benefit from Animal Pollinators
Soybean
Cucumber
Groundnut
Squash, marrow
Beans (some)
Eggplant
Cowpea
Cabbage
Sunflower
Onion
Melon
Chili pepper
bee
thrip
fly
Some Tree Crops Grown in Africa Which May Require or
Substantially Benefit from Animal Pollinators
Oil palm
Fig
Avocado
Cocoa
Coffee
Mango
Karite nut
Citrus
Coconut
Papaya
beetle
wasp
moth
bee
fly
bat
Estimated value of pollinator services
FAO Production
Year book
Commodity
"International
Dollar" Price per
ton
Annual Value World
Production 1000s of
"International Dollars"
Southwick's % Crop
Loss with No
Replacement
Polllinatoon
Value of Losses
1000s of
"International
Dollars"
TROPICAL TREE CROPS
MANGOES (% From J. B. Free)
211.49
COFFEE, GREEN (% from J. B. Free) 958.96
COCOA BEANS (% from J. B. Free)
663.10
PALM OIL (% from J. B. Free)
165.05
4,715,496
5,286,733
1,956,085
2,629,554
50%
50%
50%
20%
2,357,748
2,643,367
978,042
525,911
Sub-total
14,587,867
43%
6,505,067
590.70
1440.85
100.24
162.87
183.92
174.69
223.12
671,135
5,607,111
4,502,052
2,648,771
2,333,767
6,450,614
13,091,076
292.45
10%
21.87%
0.63%
1.68%
3.87%
30%
60%
7,771,635
67,114
1,226,275
28,363
44,499
90,317
1,935,184
7,854,646
80%
Sub-total
43,076,161
26%
17,415,706
VEGETABLE AND SEED CROPS
ARTICHOKES
ASPARAGUS
CABBAGES
CARROTS
CAULIFLOWER
COTTONSEED
CUCUMBERS AND GHERKINS
SUNFLOWER SEED
6,169,308
Buzz Pollination in the Solanaceae
Mean fresh fruit weight
500
450
Black Beauty variety
400
Early Long Purple variety
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
Mode of pollination
Ratio of % number of bees to the % habitat cover
3
Farmland
Riverine forest
2.5
Open woodland
Grassland
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
January
February
March
Months
May
June
Riverine Acacia woodland of Nguruman
Acacia nilotica
- number of flowers/m
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
3.5
3
number of visitors
number of bee visito
2.5
number of visits
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Barleria spinesepala
- number of flowers/m
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
7
8
9
10
11
12
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Diversity of Floral Visitors on Acacia seneg
Butterflies
Wasps
Native Bee
Floral Visitors to Aloe spp. (6.00-9.00a.m.)
Wasps
Ants
Native bees
Honeybee
Floral Visitors to Aloe spp. (9.00 - 11.00
a.m.)
Wasps
Honeybee
Ants
Native Bee