Towards achieving food security: Adaptive management of pollinators for crop plant and wildlife

Floral ecology and conservation of pollinators are new concerns within the environmental community which has not been explored adequately. The role of Pollinators towards achieving food security is critical function to all humanity and that full attention to it is long overdue. There is a keen interest in identifying practices that will encourage the presence of diverse wild pollinators on farms growing pollinator-dependent crops. Losses of pollination services are difficult to quantify; unlike pests which damage crops, the benefit of pollinators are not immediately known. The benefits of their work are reflected in crop yields at the time of harvest. It is quite understandable that farmers may not readily link the presence of pollinators to much later improved yields. The aim of this paper therefore, is to provide the role of pollinators towards achieving food security and evaluate the impact of pollinatorfriendly practices on the survival of pollinators. Monitoring, conservation, management and case examples of pollinator losses are also discussed. The paper also provides research interventions needed and the wayforward for conservation of pollinators. This paper is targeted at organizations working with farmers and farmers’ groups to help them improve their production systems and practices so that they can meet their livelihood needs. This includes extension services, farmer field schools, cooperatives and marketing agents.