Publication

Pollinators provide pollination services that are crucial for the productivity of agricultural and natural ecosystems. It has been estimated that over three-quarters of the world’s crops and over 80% of all flowering plants depend on animal pollinators, especially bees. Globally, the annual contribution of pollinators to agricultural crops has been estimated at about USD 200 billion. However, pollinator populations and diversity are declining worldwide. This presents a serious threat to agricultural production affecting the livelihoods of farmers, national agricultural economies, and food security. This study assesses the economic value of pollination services, especially by insect pollinators, to agriculture in selected areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region in order to highlight the need for initiatives to address the problem