The Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries William James Charles Hutchinson addressed the bee farmers at the 5th Annual Meeting of the Hanover Bee Farmers Co-operative Society.

Hutchinson  likewise encouraged more Jamaicans to invest in the beekeeping business as it has huge potential to give lucrative returns on investment. With 48,000 registered hives in 2016, the minister considers beekeeping as a fast-growing industry. The number of managed hives this year is 300% higher than the number of bee hives in production in 2005.

He also advised the public that the ministry's Apiculture Unit offers training for new entrants.

"As a beekeeper, you do not require large acreages to establish an apiary; it is not labor intensive; and, if managed properly, the returns on your investment can be significant," Minister Hutchinson said.

The minister commended the Hanover bee farmers for contributing to the increase in honey production, having produced an estimated 247,000 gallons this year - higher than 2005's 117,548 gallons.

The industry is expected to continue performing well in 2017, as he projected the honey production to reap 288,000 gallons. This would result to an earning of almost $J1.8 billion.

Minister Hutchinson, who has been committed in advancing the agricultural sector, however, noted that achieving the production goal depends on the quality of queen bees.

In order to meet the growing demands of the industry, he urged the farmers to focus more on producing more queen bees, and to plant more crops that help with the pollination process.

Just like other businesses in the agricultural sector, climate change also has a negative impact on the beekeeping industry. Climate change affects the development of honeybees and hive products. In relation to this, the minister said that the ministry has been implementing intervention measures in order to improve the capabilities of the industry.