Pollinators are the key to sustenance of terrestrial life on the earth. Yet, in India there has been little effort by policymakers, researchers and politicians to conserve them. Even farmers, whose life and livelihood depend on pollinators, are unaware of their significance.

Growing up, I remember my grandmother repeatedly telling us, “Don’t kill the bees. Killing one bee will bring upon you the same sin as killing seven cows.” It did not make sense then. The bees are small and insignificant, but cows are an integral part of the household. They give us milk, butter and curd. But, I guess, wisdom skips a generation. Like my parents, many farmers I met during my field work in Sikkim are unaware of the significance of bees. Dhan Bir, a farmer from Pakhigaon, West Sikkim, thinks bees steal nectar from flowers and make mandarin oranges on his land sour. Many other farmers believe that bees cause the fruit to fall. Very few know about the valuable pollination services the bees provide.