Percepção de apicultores sobre a importância econômica, social e ambiental da atividade em Nova Prata do Iguaçu, PR.

Abstract

Beekeeping requires relatively low investments and can be carried out by family farmers, being able to provide benefits that involve economic, social and environmental issues. The present research sought to study beekeeping to understand mainly the economic and environmental issues that beekeeping activity contributes to farmers in the municipality of Nova Prata do Iguaçu-PR. For this, three experienced beekeepers pioneers in the production of honey at a commercial level in the region, with a history of former presidents and participation in the construction of the Association of Beekeepers of Francisco Beltrão were interviewed, with the help of a semi-structured questionnaire. The conversations were recorded, the audios transcribed and organized into a new document, with which the analyzes were performed. It was found that food diversification followed by income generation are the reasons that lead beekeepers to perform the activity. In addition, technified beekeeping is capable of boosting bee production many times over. For the activity to gain space in family farming, it is necessary to create public policies aimed at promoting beekeeping and encouraging beekeepers, also encouraging the use of honey as a food product.