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In Barbados, more people are getting into beekeeping. It’s turning into a smart way to earn money while helping nature.
Thanks to growing public interest and training from the Ministry of Agriculture, many Barbadians are learning how to care for bees.
Bernard Thompson, a senior official at the Ministry, explained that bees are not only important for honey. They also pollinate many fruits and vegetables. Without bees, many crops wouldn’t grow well.
He said beekeeping doesn’t need a lot of land. A small area, like a quarter-acre, is enough to start. Bees live in hives, which are boxes set up in an area called an apiary.
The Ministry recently trained 21 beginners and 16 advanced students in beekeeping. The classes were led by local expert David Small and trainers from the University of Florida’s Bee College.
Thora Cumberbatch, who joined the training, helped start the first beekeeping co-op in Barbados. She said she always liked bees and took the beginner course last year. After that, her group decided to stick together and form a cooperative.
Cumberbatch said people don’t always know how many useful things come from a beehive. Besides honey, beekeepers make things like beeswax candles, throat sprays, and healing balms. These natural products are becoming popular and could be sold across the Caribbean.
But beekeeping isn’t easy. Cumberbatch pointed out that bees need care, even if they aren’t making honey. Bees can get sick and need to be protected, just like any other farm animal.
Financially, it can pay off. Thompson said a hive’s top box, called a “deep super,” can give up to 80 pounds of honey if conditions are good. Since local honey sells for $5 to $10 a bottle, even one hive could earn decent money.
Bees are also important for the environment. They help plants grow by spreading pollen, which improves crops and keeps nature in balance. Locally made honey also cuts down on imports, helping both the economy and the planet.
As climate change causes unpredictable weather, bees help keep food growing. Every hive helps support Barbados’ food security and natural ecosystem.
Other Caribbean islands like Saint Lucia, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago are also supporting beekeeping. In New Zealand, honey has become a huge industry, especially the famous Manuka honey.
Barbados has the right plants, interest, and government help to lead in beekeeping. More trained beekeepers could help cut the $1 million spent on imported honey and give locals access to fresh, raw Barbadian honey.
Even the color and taste of honey changes depending on the flowers bees visit. For example, mango blossoms produce a different kind of honey than wildflowers or breadfruit trees. This makes local honey more special.
Thompson advised beginners to get proper training and find mentors. You’ll need tools, protective gear, and bees—but most of all, guidance from experienced beekeepers.
Cumberbatch added that it’s not just about putting bees in a box. You need to learn, respect the bees, and care for them. If you do, the rewards are both financial and environmental.
Source: Barbados GIS.
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