The British Bee-keepers’ Association (BBKA) is warning of threats to top-fruit crops as a result of government plans to cut spending on bee-health inspection from 2008.

Ivor Davis, chairman of the association is conducting a high-profile campaign to raise awareness of the situation this summer at country shows and in the media. He is also keen to alert growers to the problem.

“We are proposing to cut 20 per cent of the total bee-keeping budget to bring it to just under £1 million,” said a Defra spokeswoman. “But it is also important to realise that the money we invest is focused on research and development on treating and preventing disease.”

But Dr Davis told the Journal that cutting the bee budget and doing away with half of the country’s bee inspectors will be a serious blow. “Bee-keepers will have no one to call on if they do have a problem with disease in their colonies and our fear is that hobbyists will give up. Varroa has already destroyed our wild colonies, so the loss of honeybees would have a serious impact on agriculture, especially those crops requiring early spring pollinators, for example top-fruit crops would be very poor if there is a crop at all.”

Defra estimates bees’ contribution to agriculture at £120m annually with top fruit having the most to lose.

“We are asking people to write to their MPs and we need to talk to growers to warn them of the danger for their crops after 2008 if this proposal goes ahead,” said Dr Davis.

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