Cuban agriculture is having difficulties with the acquisition of inputs due to their high price in the international market, but in spite of that, beekeeping stood out, even in the face of the damages caused by the pandemic.

By Roberto Morejón

Cuban agriculture is having difficulties with the acquisition of inputs due to their high price in the international market, but in spite of that, beekeeping stood out, even in the face of the damages caused by the pandemic.

The export of bee honey is in frank recovery while avoiding the effects of the U.S. blockade, while beekeepers are trying to combine science and technique with their innate wisdom to increase yields.

Several Cuban provinces reported an increase in deliveries of syrup, along with important indexes of propolis, pollen and jelly, among other variants. 

The territories expanded the number of hives to more than 223,000, in a major effort in the hope of reaching very high levels, such as 15,000 tons per year.

Along that path, Cuban beekeepers climbed decisive steps by taxing 10,500 tons of honey in 2021, a figure that broke the historical record of 10,213, dating back to 1983.  

The national company, which produces the delicious fluid and its derivatives, is also trying to expand its sales abroad, a process it is carrying out directly, for which it intends to attract markets such as China.

The bee honey supplied in Cuba is essentially destined for the European market, where it is valued as a wonderful source of minerals and vitamins, with excellent properties for cosmetics.

At the domestic level, the beekeeping company is extending the establishment of the so-called Honey Houses, whose number reached 14, an endeavor welcomed by Cubans, interested in acquiring different products, useful for gastronomy and health.

It is not by chance that part of the national production of the substance is sent to priority public health programs.

In order to realize new expectations it would be necessary to expand honey deliveries, something possible given that Cuba is one of the Caribbean countries with the greatest potential.

To exploit them, it will be unavoidable to diversify production, give greater added value to the offers, continue moving hives to places with sufficient flowering and contribute to the repopulation of honey plants.

With its characteristic sweetness, the substance formed mainly by sugars is called to continue as one of the major targets of attention of Cuban farmers.