Clive Bryan, Gleaner Writer

The Portland Bee Farmers Association (PBFA), with 160 registered members, has now grown into one of the more efficient honey producing outfits in Jamaica.

Together, these farmers operate 1,100 colonies of bees, producing an average of 10 gallons of honey per colony up from 4.5 gallons in 2000.

Treasurer of the association, Gaian Thompson, attributes much of the growth to the assistance from the Eastern Jamaica Agriculture Support Project (EJASP), which provided $3.8 million in financial assistance.

Manager of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority's (RADA) Portland parish office, Crawford Clarke, describes the bee farmers as "the most successful so far of the farming groups organised by EJASP in the parish."

Cohesiveness of the group

Meanwhile, chief apiculture officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Reginald Peddy, pointed to "the cohesiveness of the group" and says they compare favourably to more established groups in Hanover, St. Mary and St. Thomas.

Mr. Peddy believes that the Portland bee farmers are in a very good position to assist with the development of new hives to help drive honey production at the national level.

President of the PBFA, Alexander Robinson, is confident of meeting the challenge. "We now have some vibrant young bee farmers among us and we are having some success in attracting others to the business," he notes.

The honey produced is sold on the domestic market, including the honey bottling plant operated by the All-Island Bee Farmers Association in Linstead, St. Catherine.

Mr. Thompson says the group includes 15 women who are very active. Farmers own from five to 50 colonies of bees.