PHOTO BY CLAUDIA GARDNER
Kenny Marston tends to one of his apiaries in Haughton Court, Hanover.
Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer
HANOVER:
PROMPTED BY a desire to stem the shortage of honey, bee farmer Kenroy Marston of Hopewell, Hanover, began rearing bees in 1991 and is reaping sweet rewards today.
"I was doing business and needed honey. I asked someone to sell me, but he was reluctant," Mr. Marston told Farmers Weekly in a recent interview at one of his apiaries in Haughton Court, Lucea, Hanover. "It was then that a friend of mine encouraged me to start my own bee farm."
Aided by his daughter, Mr. Marston started his apiary with four boxes of bees. Now, the number has grown to 200, located in the communities of Hampden, Trelawny; Chatham, St James; and Haddington, Haighton Court and Hopewell in Hanover.
According to him, the business has been yielding profits beyond his wildest dreams, to the extent that he is now planning to export honey.
"You don't have to start with a lot of bees," Mr. Marston advised, "you can start small."
Mr. Marston said the greatest challenge currently facing the bee-keeping industry in Jamaica is the inability to supply the growing demand for honey.
"We don't have enough honey in Jamaica to supply the population's demand," he said, "We need more bee farmers in Jamaica because we have the potential and perhaps the world's finest honey."
Mr. Marston said he would be willing to assist young persons or groups who are interested in bee-keeping.
