Local bee farmers eyeing international markets amid sector expansion
Published:Saturday | October 5, 2024 | 8:57 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Reggae singer Dennis ‘Mackie Conscious’ McKay, president of the St James Bee Farmers Association, is urging more Jamaicans to invest in beekeeping to boost honey production and position Jamaica as a global export leader.
Speaking at the Healthy Lifestyle Day celebration hosted by the St James Bee Farmers Association on Thursday at the Rural Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) office complex in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, McKay highlighted the untapped potential of the sector.
In addition to honey, byproducts like beeswax, propolis, bee pollen, and royal jelly could be packaged for export.
“As far as we know, Jamaica doesn’t produce enough honey to export, and it’s a lucrative business that so many people can get involved in. We want to encourage as many persons as possible to get involved,” McKay said, stressing the need to expand the industry to realise its full potential.
Jamaica’s beekeeping industry currently comprises approximately 200 beekeepers with over 67,000 colonies. McKay sees this as an ideal starting point for pushing into the export market for both honey and its byproducts. The parishes of St Catherine and St Mary have the highest concentration of beekeepers on the island.
Despite the sector suffering J$34 million in losses from Hurricane Beryl, McKay remains optimistic.
“Brighter days are on the horizon,” he said confidently.
MORE FOCUS ON J’CAN RAW MATERIALS
McKay emphasised the need for further innovation, calling for entrepreneurs to convert bee products into value-added items such as capsules, tablets, wines, and sauces.
“One of the things we’d like to see is more focus on Jamaican raw materials, converting them into products so we can reduce the reliance on imported items that may not be healthy,” he added.
Highlighting the medicinal properties of honey, McKay noted, “If you get a cut, just rub a little honey on it. It works because honey contains hydrogen peroxide and antibiotics.”
In response to Hurricane Beryl’s impact on the industry, Agriculture Minister Floyd Green announced that the government would allocate $6.8 million to help farmers recover.
“We’re providing support for inputs like sugar, restoring colonies, and replacing equipment for beekeepers who suffered losses,” said Green.
He added that $5 million of the funding would come from the ministry, with the remainder sourced through international partners such as Man Lake Limited. An additional $1.8 million has already been allocated for pollen supplements to aid in restoring the health of bee colonies.
“I say to our beekeepers, help is on the way. That money has already been allocated, and we’re going to provide the necessary support,” Green assured.