Cherry trees are sensitive to extreme weather conditions and vulnerable to various diseases. In China, they are trying to beet the odds with the help of bumblebees.
Bumblebees are expensive, a hundred bees costs aruond 500 or 600 yuan (equivalent to 90 to 100 Euros). However, one bumblebee can pollinate dozens of flowers a minute, which makes them very efficient. Mr. Qiu Jianguo, of the Changzhou Hongda Ecological Vegetable Cooperative, has recently introduced cherry production to his city. In order to reach even pollination, he especially invested in bumblebees.
The cooperative grows over 10 cherry varieties on one hectare of trees. At the moment, the trees are blooming. The first cherries will be ready for harvest by the middle of May. Last year, only a thousand kilos of cherries where harvested due to ineffective pollination. This year, thanks to the effort of the bumblebees, yield is expected to double. Revenues are expected to double as well, from 50,000 Yuan to 180,000.
In the 3.3 acres of cherry orchard, there are more than 10 cherry varieties, and at this moment they are coming to their blooming season. It is expected in mid to late May the cherries will be ready to harvest. Last year, only a few thousand kilos cherries were yielded due to the problem in the pollination process. Thanks to the bumblebee pollination this year, the yield can be doubled, and the revenues can be doubled as well, from 50,000 revenue per acre to over t 180,000 per acre.
Source: Changzhou Daily
