Bees for Development Journal 128 September 2018
Beekeeping in Ixcán, Quiché in northern Guatemala Antonio Reyes Montejo, Field Technician, EcoLogic Development Fund Quetzaltenango, Guatemala Collaboration
The beekeeping project in Ixcán, Quiché began in 2011. It resulted from a collaboration between EcoLogic Development Fund and Heifer International, with 100 bee hives being provided to 50 families. These families made the commitment to "pass on the gift" which means that they had to multiply their bees and give two colonies to another family.
We have two centrifugal honey extractors and equipment for harvesting for the seven communities in which EcoLogic is working. The equipment is shared during harvest time – with transportation mostly by foot. We have trained Apicultural Promoters also, who are local leaders in each community. They are responsible for helping other members of the community and for the necessary equipment. In many communities there is co-ordination among beekeepers. At harvest time they rotate the work, volunteering in each other’s apiaries, thus avoiding labour costs. It has been possible for beekeepers to take advantage of their resources, such as replacing sugarbased syrup with sugarcane juice for supplemental feeding during winter when there is a shortage of nectar.
Project goal I am one of two beekeeping technicians responsible for providing technical assistance and training, as well as inputs to beekeepers. Our goal has been to provide beekeepers with best practices to help increase production. For example, we have been working on reducing moisture levels to improve the quality of honey. We are now working with 250 beekeepers, many of whom are part of the “pass on the gift” process and others have taken it up on their own until they reach 10, 20, or 30 colonies.
Outcomes Beekeeping in Ixcán is growing as there is a favourable climate and plenty of vegetation and a diversity of species to support bees. Luis Paau, one of the beekeepers said: “I had nothing, and this for me has been a great change. I acquired my first hives and year after year I increased them. Now I
Photos © Antonio Reyes Montejo
Beekeepers are provided with training on best practices to help increase production
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