DAJABÓN, Dominican Republic. - Just like the bees pollenate the flowers in Dajabón, they can do so just a few kilometers further in the town Ouanaminthe, Haiti, and despite the communities’ noticeable differences, beekeepers on both sides of the Northeast region produce 300 tons of honey yearly.

The insects don’t seem to notice the divide as beekeepers on both sides, through their cooperatives, have decided to help them together. "The bees don’t know frontiers,” said Luis Domínguez, of Dajabón’s La Fronteriza beekeeper association, referring to the challenges such as the insecticides that could affect hives on both sides.

In Ouanaminthe, Borgela Delius, expresses exactly the same, though with another connotation: " We want the aid not to know frontiers either.”

Dominican and Haitian beekeepers are also becoming more wary of the deforestation in the border zone, and in particular for the Haitians, who’ve noticed how their honey output has fallen, which led to the Binational Apicultural Encounter two years ago, to allow honey producers along the border region to get to know each other, to address mutual challenges and concerns.

Among the agreements reached was to cooperate to control pests such barroasis, a parasite that ravafes the beehive population, and also plans to bolster the local organizations on both sides of the region.

Since then environmental cleanup and training in beekeeping were carried out, whereas the Panamerican Development Foundation (PADF) is also helping to establish a solid local and soon international markets for the bi-national honey.

SOURCE: clavedigital.com