200,000 SUNFLOWERS WERE PLANTED IN OAXACA TO SAVE THE BEES

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Farmers and campesinos created a sanctuary with around 200,000 sunflowers in the Oaxacan municipality of Tututepec.

Thousands of sunflowers are planted in Oaxaca, Mexico to help and protect the bees.

Thousands of sunflowers shine resplendent on three hectares of land that make up the Center for Validation and Transfer of Rural Technology, which is considered the largest sunflower sanctuary in Oaxaca and was born as a giver of life for bees, an insect considered in danger of extinction.  that from the Llanos del Espinal, located in this town on the Oaxacan coast, municipal laws protect them.

This yellow-painted field where life flourishes is an agrotourism project that was born as a pilot test in 2019 by 80 peasants who are part of the Río Verde Agro-business Integrating Society and who in 2020 for the first time organize the State Sunflower Fair, where they attend Hundreds of people, who in addition to admiring the variety of sunflowers, learn about the importance of conserving bees and other crops such as native corn.

Although we are not aware of it,  our destiny is fully linked to that of the bees. To put it in perspective:  70 of the 100 most consumed crops depend on pollination, a process carried out by these incredible insects. 

On the other hand, for many Mexicans, especially those who live in regions where honey is traditionally produced (such as Oaxaca and the Yucatan Peninsula),  bees are a treasure that goes beyond the ecological and moves towards the symbolic and identity.  On the other hand, these small animals are in danger of extinction and it is our responsibility to rescue them. We are two fully connected species and now it’s our turn to give them back.

With this in mind, around 80 Oaxacan peasants came together to cultivate a huge sanctuary  (approximately 3 hectares) populated by  200,000 sunflowers; cultivation that, among other advantages,  provides the perfect environment for the conservation of bees.

Sunflowers, a species endemic to Mexico, are also incredible. It is a plant that is very resistant to droughts and, in general, to climate changes,  which, in addition, is useful to those who grow it in various ways: its seeds are consumed and are very nutritious, or they are used to make cooking oil. and the plant is used to feed cattle; not to mention that the bees love it, they pollinate it and by cultivating the bees, you also get the delicious honey. 

But the project, which has been in action since 2019,  has much more scope. As the campesiono explain,  planting sunflower is an alternative to combat climate change, precisely because it is a plant that supports the creation of small new ecosystems, despite the harsh conditions to which it is subjected. And it is not the only crop that this group is supporting. His idea is to generate temporary sowing cycles, seeking the rescue of other plants, such as native corn. 

And that’s not all. The project has been considered as one of the pioneers in “agritourism”,  an aspect that offers travelers the possibility of exploring the country through the landscapes created by the guardians of our bond with the land: the farmers. Can you imagine a three-hectare field decorated with 200,000 sunflowers? It is a dream come true that you can visit, preferably in March, the best time for this crop. Support this initiative with your visit and take a beautiful souvenir sunflower.

Source: mxcity.mx

The Oaxaca Post