A genetic center created two years ago by the beekeepers of the La Sorpresa agroecological farm, belonging to the Cooperativa de Créditos y Servicios Fortalecida Luis Rustán, contributes to increasing the production of queen bees in the municipality of Guantánamo.
This space favors the renewal of insects in 25 hives, the breeding of swarms with higher quality and the achievement of higher yields in the sustainable production of organic honey, with the use of clean technologies and circular economy methods, which involves sharing , repair, renew and recycle existing materials and products, to create added value.
In the fields near the genetic center, breeders use pollination in cucurbit plants such as pumpkin, cucumber and melon, widely used in human and animal food.
These actions aim to create new sources of employment and improve the remuneration of producers, who received training to enrich their knowledge and develop essential skills in the management of apiaries.
With the change of queen bees, production can increase between 15 and 30 percent, because those younger than 12 months lay more eggs than those over one year old.
This insect is the driving force behind the development of beekeeping, and if quality specimens capable of supporting between 70 and 80 thousand bees are produced, the hive has a greater chance of producing sufficient brood and providing the desired amount of honey.
Rich in mineral salts, iron, phosphorus, calcium and vitamins, honey is a food with therapeutic, purifying, antioxidant and energetic qualities.
The strategic development program of the sector in Guantánamo until 2030 is ambitious and foresees the increase of all beehive products, which contribute about 20 million dollars annually to the Ministry of Agriculture, part of which amount is invested in the acquisition of inputs and resources for breeders.
