Apiculture in Guatemala

©image: David Blaikie

Currently there are around 2.500 honey growers, gathered in 30 different associations. The industry flourished until the 1970's, when the African bee entered the country, triggering the disappearance of several apiaries.

An article in Lahora.com.gt published statements by apiculture specialist Alejandro Nicol, head of the Honey department at the Food Health area of Maga, the Agriculture Ministry: "80% of the country's honey production is sent abroad (some 2.000 tons), while the remaining 20 per cent is consumed internally".

Source: lahora.com.gt

More on this topic

Beekeeping in Nicaragua Has More Potential

March 2012

There are currently 22,600 hives across the country, a figure that could reach 300,000 with additional profits of $20 million.

At present, there are about 22,600 hives across Nicaragua, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Magfor) - the Nicaraguan National Beekeeping Commission estimates there are just over 30,000 - but older studies claim that there is potential to have 300,000 hives, reports Laprensa.com.ni.

Safety Certificate for Honey in Guatemala

November 2011

After the European court decision restricting the marketing of honey with residues of transgenic pollen, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food has announced a monitoring plan.

The monitoring plan will begin in January 2012, the results of the report will be presented in April and according to the methodology the work will include 45 samples from apiaries in Solola, Quetzaltenango and San Marcos, 30 more in Escuintla, Retalhuleu and Huehuetenango, 20 from Jutiapa, Sacatepequez and Chimaltenango, and 10 from Petén, Alta and Baja Verapaz, El Progreso, Chiquimula, Jutiapa, Guatemala and Quiche.

Guatemalan Honey Exports fall by 55%

June 2011

Foreign sales from the December 2010 to May 2011 season were 55% lower than in the same period of 2009-2010.

The rainy season has been more intense and widespread and this has been one of the determining factors in the decline in production, said Jorge Ibarra, of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport).

Beekeeping Congress in Honduras

July 2011

The Eighth Central American and Caribbean Integration and Modernising of Bee Keeping will be held 27 and July 28, 2011 at the Hotel Quinta Real La Ceiba, Honduras.

Papers to be presented at the congress:

Topic: "Prevention, diagnosis, control and eradication of the small hive beetle"