You know that apple you had for breakfast? Or the onions in last night’s curry? Thank a bee. Seriously—nearly 70% of the world’s pollination comes from these tiny buzzers. Without them, a third of our food supply vanishes. But here’s the scary part: bees are disappearing, and fast. In India alone, onion seed production—which relies heavily on bees—is already feeling the sting.

The Silent Crisis in Our Fields

Let’s talk onions. India grows 15,000 tonnes of onion seeds yearly, and 70% of that? Pollinated by honeybees. But this year, farmers noticed something off. Fields that once hummed with life are quieter. Bees are fleeing farms, and the reasons are heartbreaking: toxic pesticides, endless rows of the same crop (looking at you, monoculture!), and cities gobbling up green spaces. So where are the bees going? To urban areas… where they’re often swatted, sprayed, or worse.

Meet the "Bee Man" Who Quit His Desk Job to Save Our Food

Enter Amit Godse—a guy you’d never peg as a hero for insects. A former software engineer in Mumbai, Amit traded coding for beekeeping after realizing how dire things had gotten. “I didn’t even know there were five types of Indian bees when I started,” he laughs. Now, Pune calls him the Bee Man, and for good reason.

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Through his project, Pest to Pet, Amit does something radical: he rescues beehives from cities and moves them back to farms. Think of it as a “relocation program” for pollinators. Using techniques tailored to each species (yes, even the aggressive ones!), he’s saved over 17,000 hives so far. “Bees aren’t pests—they’re partners,” he says. “Without them, we’re all in trouble.”

Bamboo Homes, Trees, and Hope

But Amit’s not stopping there. He’s planting 5,000 trees in Pune to create safe havens for bees and crafting bamboo bee homes to replace lost habitats. “Bees need diversity,” he explains. “One flower field isn’t enough. They need forests, gardens, life.”

And he’s right. Globally, 30% of bee species are threatened. If that doesn’t scare you, consider this: no bees = no almonds, blueberries, or coffee. Yeah, coffee.

What You Can Do (Yes, You!)

Amit’s story isn’t just inspiring—it’s a wake-up call. Here’s the thing: saving bees isn’t just for experts. Even small steps help:

• Plant native flowers in pots or gardens (bees love marigolds and sunflowers!).

• Skip chemical pesticides—opt for natural alternatives.

• Support local beekeepers (raw honey is a tasty bonus!).

Next time you see a bee? Don’t panic. Watch it. Maybe even thank it. That little guy’s probably why you’ve got lunch.