The Ministry of Agriculture wants Jamaican entrepreneurs to take advantage of myriad new opportunities, in the rapidly-growing bee-keeping industry.
The industry, which is already valued at $1.3 billion, is experiencing growth of 40%, but there is still room to explore untapped by-products.
The production, harvesting and marketing of other products of the beehive, such as bee pollen, bees wax, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, queen bees and packaged bees, are only marginally addressed by just over 1% of Jamaica’s 1,202 beekeepers.
Reginald Peddy, Head of the Apiculture Unit, explains that financing for such ventures is often unavailable, or too costly for individuals to undertake.
The situation is also made difficult, because farmers are required to source and secure their own markets.
The ministry technocrats say they have ideas, but need to find investors willing to finance these ventures, and determine the clientele.
At present, value-added and by-products, produced locally and available on the domestic market, include soaps, ointments, shampoos, hair-wax and candles from beeswax, jams and jellies, wines, and infused flavoured honey.
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