GAF
A last name and a hundred honeymoons
In 1982, with more than 5,000 hives, they achieved the production record that remains to this day, of 402 tons of honey
Sandino – Iván Varela does not have the skills of his grandfather Fisco, the tough farmer from Guanahacabibes who starred in reports and documentaries in the 1980s, inspired by his extraordinary ability to deal with bees.Despite having spent his life between hives, he is surprised every time he sees the images of the man grabbing the insects "by bare hand", passing them over his face, and affirming that if he treats them with tenderness, the bees do not bite him .Iván has been prodded many times, however, like his father and his grandfather, neither does he conceive life far from them."This is something weird. If I do not come to see them every day, I am not well, "says the current president of the ubpc producing honey, wax and propolis, in this remote portion of western Cuba.Just arrived from Spain in 1919, his great-grandfather Santiago was the initiator of beekeeping in Guanahacabibes. Since then, there has always been a Varela in charge of bee breeding on the peninsula. More than a question of surname, it is a common passion for an activity that they have had to rebuild several times, after the scourge of hurricanes and plagues.They first drove her in a familiar way. Then, after the triumph of the Revolution, they decided to voluntarily hand over to the State the 200 hives they owned, to support the foundation of a beekeeping plan, whose nucleus would be in the La Jaula area. In 1964, that would be the scene of the first National Meeting of Beekeepers, and La Jaula would be recognized as the first beekeeping town in Cuba.They say that on several occasions the Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro toured the place, interested in the development of honey production, and that at the Varela house they would talk at length about the interiors and prospects of the activity.As a result of those visits, a modernization process would begin, which would include genetic improvement, the introduction of more efficient techniques, and the means and equipment to humanize work and increase yields.In 1982, with more than 5 000 hives, the production record that is maintained until today, of 402 tons of honey, would be achieved.Anecdotes abound from the encounters of the historical leader of the Revolution with Fisco Varela, and also from the proverbial humility of that illiterate peasant, but of an enormous natural talent, who for decades directed the breeding of bees in the western end of Cuba.The Waz jeep that still has the ubpc, for example, was a personal gift from the Commander-in-Chief, who Fisco never wanted to register in his name. Then they gave him a Niva and he gave it up to give it to the community office. Finally, they gave him the opportunity to buy a Moskovich, and he gave it to the most outstanding worker.With more than 2,900 hives, and a genetic center for queens with 550 nuclei, beekeeping is currently re-emerging in this almost virgin strip of land, where the will of a family has been decisive in preserving it, despite storms and plagues. .In addition to Iván, Reinaldo, Liván, Raico, Orlando, Rodolfo and Sixto also work in the cooperative, all members of a fourth generation of Varelas who are still attached to bees."For us it is a pride - assures the president of the ubpc -. Many people are surprised, and they ask us how we put up with being bitten and throwing the hives over us to move them. And it is true that it is hard work, but also very beautiful, that makes one fall in love with it.«I am sure that in a hundred years there will continue to be bees in Guanahacabibes, and a Varela promoting the production of honey. The tradition that our grandparents and great-grandparents started will last.
