FROM the quiet routines of domestic life to the buzzing fields of apiculture, Malika Persaud, co-founder of Liquid Gold Apiary, has transformed her role from a stay-at-home mother of five into one of Guyana’s most inspiring women beekeepers.

Together with her husband, Ghansham Persaud, and their two adult sons, Malika has built a thriving enterprise dedicated to producing pure, authentic Guyanese honey—an achievement that represents not only her personal growth but the broader evolution of Guyana’s apiculture industry.

For her, the journey in beekeeping began six years ago when curiosity led her to accompany her husband—himself an experienced beekeeper trained by Dr Dwight Waldron, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA)—into the fields. What began as a casual interest soon became a passion.

“I started going with him after dropping the children to school,” she recalled. “At first, I was just observing, but I became so fascinated by the process that I began learning and helping wherever I could.”

In narrating her journey, Malika shared that during the pandemic she was at home as a housewife, having had to quit her full-time office job.

To stay productive and spend more time with her spouse, she began accompanying him to various locations to engage in beekeeping and bee removal activities.

What started as an occasional outing quickly became an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.

She recalled going with her husband to their apiaries along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where she learned firsthand how to tend to the hives and manage bees.

Gradually, she developed the technical skills and confidence needed to work side by side with her spouse in the field.

Together, they began to process and bottle honey for the local market as a small business from their home in Herstelling, East Bank Demerara.

As their production increased, the Persauds realised that their honey—pure and flavourful—was more than enough for home use. They began sharing it with friends and neighbours, who encouraged them to start selling it commercially. “People loved it and advised us to start selling it,” Persaud recalled. “That’s how Liquid Gold Apiary was born.”

The couple decided to formally register their business as Liquid Gold Apiary after their honey quickly became a local bestseller.

The Persauds also sought assistance and technical guidance from GLDA staff, especially as they began receiving requests for bee removal services from residences and businesses.

By 2022, the business was fully registered—a milestone that marked the transition from household venture to a recognised small enterprise.

Even though beekeeping is not an everyday occupation, Malika finds it deeply rewarding. “For me, I gained financial independence being a woman beekeeper,” she said. “Working alongside my husband and children has made it even more fulfilling because we are doing something meaningful together.”

Today, the Persauds manage approximately 250 hives, some of which were gifted by the GLDA in 2024 as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the apiculture sector. Their bees forage among sand bitters (bitter tally) and caralita vines, producing honey rich in medicinal properties and ideal for diabetics. They take pride in ensuring that their honey remains 100 per cent pure, free from additives, and safe for both culinary and medicinal use.

Liquid Gold Apiary participated in the GLDA/GSFA Honey Fest 2025, which was held on Friday (October 31, 2025) at the GLDA Lawns, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Malika praised the Ministry of Agriculture’s proactive initiatives through GLDA and GSFA to strengthen industry surveillance and product authenticity, ensuring that consumers receive only genuine Guyanese honey.

“We welcome the government’s efforts to monitor and protect the industry,” she emphasised.

“It’s important that customers can trust what they are buying and know it’s pure, local honey.”

She also stressed the importance of branding, labelling, and formal registration for all honey producers. “Branding and proper labelling are vital—not only for marketing but also for traceability and consumer confidence,” she noted.

Malika urged all beekeepers to register their operations with GLDA and adhere to the Guyana Food Safety Authority’s food safety guidelines to ensure quality and compliance.

The story of Liquid Gold Apiary is emblematic of the transformation taking place in Guyana’s apiculture sector. Increasingly, beekeeping is becoming a mainstream source of income rather than a supplemental activity, and more women like Malika are taking the lead in this dynamic field. Their involvement signals the industry’s potential for inclusive growth, sustainability, and innovation.

As the buzz swarmed Honey Fest 2025, the journey of Malika Persaud stands as a powerful reminder that empowerment and opportunity can emerge from unexpected places.

From homemaker to honey producer, her story mirrors the evolution of Guyana’s apiculture industry—rooted in family, guided by learning, and sustained by passion for authenticity and excellence.