MONTEGO BAY, St James — The nation could be facing a severe honey shortage by the end of the year as the long-term effects of last October’s Hurricane Melissa continue to cripple the beekeeping industry, according to president of the St James Bee Farmers’ Association Dennis McKay.

He said even the intense heat now being felt across the country pales in comparison to the lingering effects of the Category 5 storm.

“It’s not so much the heat that is the crisis for the bees. Probably the major problem at this time is the impact of the hurricane and the trees that are missing. The storm turned down all the trees that provide the nectar and the pollen that support the bees. They are unable to get the nectar, so they cannot get enough nectar to store that we can get honey,” McKay told the Jamaica Observer Tuesday.

He explained that this period would ordinarily be the height of the honey-producing season, when beekeepers harvest their largest volumes. However, with many nectar-producing trees destroyed and only now beginning to recover, bees are gathering just enough food to sustain their colonies rather than building honey reserves.

“As the bees get the little nectar, it is only enough to feed them, not enough to store. So that is the major crisis as it relates to where the beekeeping and the honey business is going to go,” he said.

The dramatic decline in production has left many farmers with only a fraction of their usual harvest.

“A man used to get maybe 100 bottles from an apiary, [now] he only gets four bottles,” McKay said, adding that even large commercial operators who previously sold honey by the drum are now only able to provide a few bottles.

“He’s not getting enough that he can be selling by the drum, like before,” he added.

McKay also noted that many beekeepers suffered another devastating blow when they lost entire colonies during the hurricane.

“We are heading into a honey crisis,” he warned.

According to McKay, the dwindling supply has already sent up retail prices.

“Right now, honey used to be selling for $3,000 a bottle. I went into a supermarket and see it for $4,800, before tax added. This is the middle of the honey season; this is a time when everybody get honey,” he said.

McKay predicted that prices could climb even higher by Christmas.

“Going down to December, you might be paying $7,000 per bottle,” he cautioned.

While some damaged trees are beginning to regenerate, McKay said recovery is likely to be gradual and warned that another major weather event could worsen the situation.

“The existing trees now that are coming up, they may blossom next year, or we might have to start talking about importation of honey,” he said.

However, he expressed concern about relying on imported supplies, arguing that consumers cannot always be certain of their authenticity.

“I am seeing online where honey is made without bees. It’s only when you buy your local honey [that] you can have certain confidence that at least it come from bees,” McKay said.

Following the hurricane, the Government distributed sugar to beekeepers to help sustain weakened colonies. McKay said the assistance was useful when nectar was scarce.

“Bees don’t make honey with sugar. They use the sugar syrup to feed their young. As soon as trees start to blossom they don’t want that sugar water anymore,” he underscored.

He also suggested that support programmes should have included replacing lost colonies, noting that while some districts still have flowering trees, many of the bees needed to pollinate them and produce honey were wiped out during the hurricane.

“We have to be concerned because some people depend on that for a living,” McKay said.