Jamaicans urged to help sustain bee population

Jamaicans are being encouraged to help sustain the country's bee population, a crucial element for boosting food security efforts. Gregory Lynch, Senior Plant Protection Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining’s Apiculture Unit, emphasized the importance of backyard gardening and planting more flowers to support these pollinators.

During an interview at the 72nd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show, Lynch explained the significant economic impact of honeybees. He stated that bees increase crop yields by approximately 30 percent, underscoring their vital role in fruit production. "We must take care of our bees because they are that important," he stressed.

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bees increase your yield by 30 per cent. So, if you have bees around where you have crops that are producing fruit you can expect to get at least a 30 per cent yield. We must take care of our bees because they are that important

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also advocates for protecting pollinator populations like bees, recognizing their contribution to biodiversity and the ecosystems essential for agriculture. However, the Ministry is alerting consumers to potential price increases for honey and other bee by-products due to changing weather patterns affecting harvest volumes.

Lynch noted that below-average rainfall and adverse weather events have diminished flowering plants, impacting honeybee food sources and consequently reducing honey production. "We usually expect our honey flow to come around January, February and March, but this change pushes that all the way down to April or May," he said. This scarcity drives up prices for honey, pollen, and wax.

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We usually expect our honey flow to come around January, February and March, but this change pushes that all the way down to April or May