340 hives distributed in Region 9 as Guyana pushes honey production expansion

Approximately 300 to 340 hives have been distributed to farmers in three villages in Region Nine – Nappi, Parashara, and Haiowa, as part of an initiative aimed at developing communities through honey production.
Before 2020, Guyana produced approximately 2128 gallons of honey annually, a level of production that can barely fulfil the needs of a single community.
However, over the years, Guyana has seen significant growth through the work carried out by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), with heavy investments being made in apiculture, commonly known as beekeeping.
According to the Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, honey is a highly lucrative commodity. He explained that in 2025, five years after the investments were made, Guyana’s honey production increased to 38,574 gallons annually.
“We will distribute almost 300 to 340 hives this afternoon here. So when we distribute that, each person can have five hives or more, but at a minimum five,” the Minister stated.
He explained that the honey season will begin in August this year and continue into January.
“Between that season, each hive or each box that you’ll have can give you over seven harvests of honey,” he added.
The Minister further stated that participants could benefit significantly from the initiative.
“So that’s 35 harvests you will get – 35 times on each box. And each harvest will give you approximately $300,000 from August to January,” he said.
The Minister stated that the project is intended to directly benefit the community by improving livelihoods and creating greater economic opportunities for residents. He explained that the investments being made are aimed at increasing economic power within the community and putting more disposable income into the hands of citizens.
According to the Minister, while the initiative may appear simple at present, those involved in the project are expected to earn an income that can support both themselves and their families.
“With this, what we are doing, I am hoping that you will make full use of this project. You will ensure that we have a transparent way of selecting the participants. We want everybody who wants to be part of the project to get involved. If we have to provide more hives, then we will provide more hives. We want Region Nine to be a main player in honey production for us,” the Minister said.
The Minister also urged that the stigmatisation surrounding honey production must change, noting that many persons still overlook the industry’s economic potential.
“We have to change that mindset because what we are doing, or what we have done, is bring in three specialists who are working in various parts of Guyana to get communities involved in honey production. Region Nine has been identified as an area to ramp up honey production, and we are looking to increase honey production substantially over the next few years with the contribution of Region Nine,” he stated.
In fact, after the hives are distributed, the Government has pledged to help secure markets for the farmers. The Minister also assured residents that the hives will be distributed properly and fairly to persons participating in the project.