Buzzing with Purpose: How Young Dominicans Are Building Futures Through Agriculture

Across Dominica, a growing number of young people are redefining what agriculture looks like not as a last resort, but as a smart, sustainable way to earn, innovate, and contribute to national development. From agro-processing to beekeeping, youth are finding modern pathways into agriculture that allow them to balance careers, entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility.

Supported by initiatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), young people and returnees are being empowered to build livelihoods that are rooted in local resources while strengthening community resilience. Agriculture, once seen as labour-intensive and limiting, is now emerging as a space for innovation, flexibility, and long-term opportunity.

One area gaining renewed interest among youth is beekeeping, a venture that offers income potential while supporting food production and environmental health. For young entrepreneurs, it represents a practical entry point into agriculture, especially for those who may already be employed full-time.

Shem Jacob is one such example. A police officer by profession and the owner of Bud’s Backyard Honey, Shem began beekeeping in 2020 after intentionally seeking a sustainable business he could manage alongside his career.

“When I started my career as a police officer, I wanted to do a second job. I was serious about a business on the side,” he explains. “I found out that honey doesn’t spoil, and bees are an animal that you can leave for a few days, a few weeks, and go and come back. You don’t have to attend to them every day.”

That flexibility has allowed Shem to build a business without sacrificing stability,  a model that resonates strongly with young people navigating employment, family life, and entrepreneurship. Today, his operation produces pure honey and beeswax, which he sells through local markets and directly to customers.

Beyond income generation, Shem describes beekeeping as deeply grounding. “Beekeeping is very nice. It’s a very peaceful venture,” he says. “It brings you out to nature, and you actually see what small creatures can do.” He notes that producing a single bottle of honey requires the collective work of hundreds of bees,  a reminder of the value of cooperation and care for the natural world.

Importantly, beekeeping supports much more than the beekeeper. Bees play a critical role in pollinating crops such as cucumbers, peppers, watermelon, coconuts, and citrus.

With healthier bee populations, farmers experience improved yields, stronger food systems, and greater resilience in the face of climate challenges. This directly supports goals around food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.

Shem also contributes to the wider agricultural sector through his role on the board of the Dominica Beekeepers Cooperative Society Ltd., where he helps support training, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration among beekeepers across the island.

“It actually opens the door to networking, meeting other beekeepers, and learning a lot,” he shares. The cooperative also connects members to regional opportunities, strengthening skills and exposing young farmers to best practices across the Caribbean.

“We actually need more beekeepers on the island,” Shem emphasizes. “You cannot saturate the honey market. There’s always a need for honey and byproducts of honey and bees.”

His message to young people is clear: agriculture is not only viable, it is essential. “I would encourage younger persons, anyone who feels they have the potential or the time to come into beekeeping. You’re not only making a profit for yourself, but also helping farmers and building the country.”

For IOM, stories like Shem’s demonstrate how empowering youth through agriculture supports broader development goals, creating decent work, strengthening food systems, protecting ecosystems, and helping communities remain resilient and self-reliant. By investing in young people and sustainable livelihoods, Dominica is building a future where economic growth and environmental care go hand in hand.

As more young Dominicans turn to agriculture with fresh perspectives and modern approaches, they are proving that working the land — and working with nature — can be a powerful way to shape their futures and the future of the island.