Guantanamo.- Honey production in Guantánamo is showing signs of recovery after several years affected by extreme weather events and material shortages in the sector.
Magdiel Méndez Lobaina, the provincial director of beekeeping, said this year’s output is expected to exceed last year’s, although significant challenges remain before production returns to historical levels.
He explained that the province’s beekeeping industry is still recovering from natural disasters that damaged both hives and extensive areas of nectar-producing vegetation. “We have come through two very difficult years. Hurricane Oscar caused severe damage,” he said.
Recovery is slow because beekeeping depends directly on the renewal of ecosystems that provide bees with food. “Honey production depends on flowers and nectar resources. Some areas have never returned to what they once were,” Méndez Lobaina noted.
Despite these difficulties, he believes conditions are in place to improve production this year, while stressing that the sector is not yet in a comfortable position.
The director said the final three months of the year are crucial, accounting for about 64 percent of production and coinciding with the hurricane season. Drought compounds the impact of severe weather by limiting the growth of vegetation needed to sustain beekeeping.
He identified El Salvador as one of the province’s leading honey-producing municipalities and recognized Imías and San Antonio del Sur for their certified organic honey production.
