By The Star Staff
With a focus on continuing to strengthen the apiculture sector on the island, Agriculture Secretary Ramón González Beiró on Thursday delivered 1.405 boxes of hives to the eight agricultural regions.
The Agriculture secretary stressed the importance of the investment for an industry that has been in decline in recent years.
“We impact apiculture again with the delivery of these boxes of hives that can continue to grow the industry and convert into a profitable [sector] in the production of honey,” González Beiró said. “These last four years we have delivered essential tools to the apiculturists [...] recognizing that the base of a good agriculture begins with our apiculturists, who care for, protect and study the bees so that they can pollinate our crops.”
He added that “since we have been making a greater effort to continue growing Puerto Rico apiculture and transform it from a pastime into an industry, today our apiculturists participate in all the programs of the agency with the same assistance as any other [sector of] agriculture, and we have donated 2,600 boxes of hives.”
The 82 apiculturists who attended the hive distribution event in Yahuecas, Adjuntas, also had a workshop on the trap panel for the control of the Varroa pest, which harms the bee.
“There is a resurgence with apiculture thanks to these efforts,” said apiculturist Daniel Pérez, a professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus.
kudos to Secretary Ramón González Beiró, these are the initiatives that will provide the means to modernize and diversified PR's economy, generating jobs, education as well as national and international markets. The fundamental role that bees played in the farming sector can't be underestimated; Sec. González Beiró understand it well and went for the basic to obtain the singulars.