Surveying Honeybees in Guyana

Honey production in Guyana has increased in recent years due to the high demand from local and overseas populations. The Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA) is the only institution mandated by the government to implement and oversee livestock development activities, including beekeeping. Farmer to Farmer at Partners of the Americas has been supporting GLDA for many years. In January and August of 2013, Amy Weeks, the owner of 70 hives that focus on queen and local honey production, volunteered in the country and successfully raised money to purchase a wax foundation press machine for Guyana's beekeepers. 

Seven years later, in February of 2020, she returned to Guyana to conduct a new countrywide honeybee pest and disease survey. These surveys are conducted periodically to protect the industry. Because of the scope of the assignment -which aimed to cover all of Guyana’s “beekeeping hotspots”- Amy was joined and supported by Nathan Weber, who had also previously volunteered in the country.

Nathan is an Apiary Inspector from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and has extensive experience inspecting apiaries for the presence of any of the six brood diseases: American Foulbrood, European Foulbrood, Sac Brood, Chalk Brood, Parasitic Mite Syndrome, and Deformed Wing Virus. He also performs Sugar Rolls to discover mite load in colonies and discuss treatment options with beekeepers when diseases are discovered. 

Amy and Nathan spent three weeks in Guyana and managed to cover 70% of the regions of the country. Apart from the survey, they also delivered individual practical beekeeping training to all 98 beekeepers that hosted them in their apiaries. The volunteers gained a solid understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Guyanese beekeeping industry on a village-, regional- and country-scale. 

At the end of the assignment, Amy and Nathan advised beekeepers to set up their hives in a way that allowed them to work the hive from the back, facing hive entrances away from walkways and clearing stumbling sticks and vegetation away from hives and footpaths. They also taught them about the correct number of frames in boxes and the right spacing between frames, as well as how to fold a bee suit so the veil is not exposed, which will prolong the life of the suit plus offer more protection to the beekeeper. 

Both volunteers considered it a true honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to return to Guyana and assist its beekeepers. Guyana is a truly beautiful country and both volunteers had the rare opportunity to explore most of it while collecting samples for the survey: “The Guyanese people, and especially the beekeepers, are so friendly and hospitable, that one forgets one is away from home. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you one and all for everything you provided us, taught us and shared with us during our time in your country. Leaving Guyana is always an emotional experience, this time more than ever.”