Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, on Friday evening, announced that every beekeeper in Guyana will receive 10 beehive boxes as part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to expand honey production and strengthen the country’s apiculture industry.
The announcement was made during his feature address at Honey Fest 2026, where he highlighted the industry’s significant growth and increasing contribution to rural development, employment, entrepreneurship, and economic diversification.
With approximately 280 beekeepers currently recorded across the country, the initiative will provide each beekeeper with additional resources to expand their operations, increase production, and improve their earning potential.
The event, held under the theme “Next Generation Hives: Growing Guyana Through Green Apiculture,” provided a platform to showcase the expanding opportunities within the industry, particularly in honey production, value-added processing, and the development of sustainable businesses.
Addressing those gathered, Minister Mustapha noted that Honey Fest has evolved beyond an exhibition of honey and honey-based products into an important platform for showcasing an industry that is creating employment, generating income, supporting livelihoods, and encouraging greater entrepreneurial participation, particularly among young people and women.
The Minister disclosed that through the National Honey Expansion Programme, the Ministry of Agriculture has been working to strengthen production capacity and expand apiculture activities across the country. These interventions have contributed to a substantial increase in national honey production, from 3,745 gallons in 2022 to 38,574 gallons in 2025, representing a 53 per cent increase over production recorded in 2024.
Minister Mustapha also highlighted President Dr Irfaan Ali’s emphasis on agricultural diversification and the development of non-traditional agricultural industries as part of Guyana’s broader food security and economic development agenda. He noted that the continued expansion of apiculture is consistent with this vision, particularly as the Government works to create new income-generating opportunities, support small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises, and encourage greater youth participation in agriculture.
He further explained that the industry’s potential extends beyond honey production, pointing to opportunities for agro-processing, product development, packaging, branding, and access to local and international markets. The Minister also underscored the important role bees play in pollination, biodiversity conservation, and supporting agricultural productivity, noting that sustainable apiculture contributes to both environmental protection and food security.
Minister Mustapha said the progress recorded demonstrates that Guyana’s honey industry is no longer a small-scale agricultural activity but is steadily emerging as an important contributor to rural development, economic opportunity, and environmental sustainability. He encouraged beekeepers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders to continue investing in the industry and taking advantage of the opportunities being created through the Government’s agricultural development programmes.See less
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