Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer

Land and Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, has reported that honey production doubled last year.

Clarke told journalists and stakeholders of the agriculture sector at his ministry's Hope Road offices in St. Andrew last week, that the commodity had grown from an average of 3.2 gallons per hive to 7.5 gallons per hive.

"It was a direct result of the ministry's strategic intervention through the adoption of modern technologies and improved pest-management practices," he said.

Last year, $11.5 million was injected into the bee industry through the Agriculture Support Services Project (ASSP) honey marketing and production programme. The Agriculture Minister also said the flagship US$27.3 million Agriculture Support programme continued to impact positively on the growth of rural farming communities.

Since its inception in January 2001, the ASSP has financed a total of 78 projects and services, valued at some $645 million.

Increased YIELD

Last year, the Agriculture Ministry allocated $30 million and trained more than 40 unemployed young men and women in beekeeping skills with the aim of further developing the industry.

Meanwhile, president of the All-Island Bee Farmers' Association, Winfield Murray, said a recent study revealed that there are 900 bee farmers in Jamaica with colonies valued more than $282 million.

He said the farmers are yielding in excess of $441 million worth of honey with other assets totalling more than $300 million.

"Since the 1990s, people have been seeing the bee industry as a business and taking the production seriously and, as a result, the industry has increased," said Murray.

He said his association intends to increase the number of bee farmers by 50 per cent within the next three years, as well as produce honey by-products, like bee pollen, for the export market.