Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa announced that Quintana Roo has become one of Mexico’s top 10 honey-producing states, with annual output exceeding 2,700 tons.
Speaking at the opening of the 32nd International Beekeeping Update Congress in Chetumal, Lezama said the state now has nearly 850 registered beekeepers and more than 32,000 active hives. The industry generates around 200 million pesos (about $10 million) annually, concentrated mainly in the municipalities of José María Morelos, Bacalar, and Othón P. Blanco.
The congress, organized by the National Association of Veterinarians Specializing in Bees (ANMVEA), runs from July 1 to 3. Lezama said the event is key to protecting native bees, promoting sustainable production, and boosting rural family incomes.
Jorge Aguilar, head of the state’s Agricultural Development Secretariat (SEDARPE), called beekeeping a strategic activity that preserves the biological and cultural memory of the Maya people. ANMVEA Vice President Sóstenes Rafael de Jaime Rodríguez thanked the state government for supporting the event, which includes workshops, conferences, and a trade expo.
During the ceremony, officials also presented the book “Encuentro por la Miel de Quintana Roo,” which documents the sector’s history and honors generations of beekeepers.
