Zooming in on Guyana

Size

214,969 km²

Population

811 000 of which 98% live in the coastal area and along the mouths of the major rivers.

GNP

$684 per capita. Agriculture accounts for 17% of the GNP.

Main agriculture

Coconut, rice, sugar, timber, carambola, citrus, coffee and vegetables. Natural resources besides the world’s oldest tropical forests covering 80% of the land area, are gold, diamonds and bauxite.

Bees

Apis mellifera: Italian races of honey bees have been present since the beginning of this century. Africanized honey bees arrived in 1975. Stingless bees: some of these are as respected for their defensiveness as the Africanized honey bee.

Beekeeping

Honey hunting is practised by native Indians on Apis mellifera and Meliponids and Trigonids. This honey is not sold commercially. Houses are mostly wooden with double ceilings and walls providing excellent nesting sites for swarms. This creates serious problems in the presence of Africanized honey bees. In the summer months of 1989 six people were killed by bees.

Behaviour of hived swarms is extremely variable. On average however bees have become less defensive, are less likely to abscond and large multiple swarms are hardly seen anymore. Ministry of Agriculture extension efforts are limited to emergency swarm removals.

Hives

Langstroth frame hives have been in use since the beginning of this century. Repeated introduction of Italian queens after the arrival of Africanized honey bees always failed.

Honey production

The first attempts to export honey were made before arrival of Africanized honey bees. Subsequently the fledgling industry and extension services collapsed, partially due to the Africanized honey bee. Today there is not enough honey to meet local consumption. Before the arrival of Africanized honey bees 180 000 kg of honey were sold locally, harvested by 700-800 beekeepers. By 1989, 200-300 beekeepers were active with less than 1500 hives.

Melliferous vegetation

The forested areas of Pomeroon and NW provinces produce the highest yields. Land bordering the rivers is very productive. The majority of honey is from mangroves along the coasts of Demerara and Berbice, where most of the active beekeepers live. This honey is very good tasting, slightly salty and of light amber colour. Overall the honeys are varied in colour and flavour, but all have high moisture content regardless of care taken during harvesting.

Association

Guyana Beekeepers’ Association (since 1932). President: Mr Camacho, Georgetown.

Beekeeping department

Ministry of Agriculture, Georgetown.

Projects

CIDA equipment grant to the Guyana Beekeepers’ Association (1985).

1988-1989: FAO-funded Technical Co- operation Programme for the training of extension personnel and beekeepers in the management of Africanized honey bees, the establishment of demonstration apiaries, and feasibility study on a large-scale beekeeping.

Conservation

The IWOKRAMA Rainforest Programme starts in 1992. The emphasis of the Programme is on sustainable utilisation.

Honey bee diseases

Symptoms of Nosema have been reported. At least one introduction of Italian queens from the USA, in 1988, resulted in isolated cases of European foulbrood in non-Africanized colonies.

With thanks to Rainer Krell for his assistance with this item.

Further reading

BEETSMA, I (1976) Improving honey production and disposal in Guyana and Surinam. Apiculture in Tropical Climates: 81-83.

KRELL, R; PERSANO ODDO, L (1989) Honey production in Guyana. Its conformity to international quality standards. Proc XXXII Int Apic Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 586-589.

OTIS, G.W; TAYLOR, O R Jr (1979) Beekeeping in the Guianas. Beekeeping in rural development London, UK; IBRA and Commonwealth Secretariat: 145-154.

More articles and papers are held in the IBRA Library