By Bob Aston
Apiculture (Bee keeping) has become an important enterprise in the livestock sub sector. Kanja Waweru, 60, a farmer in Muhotetu Division, Laikipia County started his bee keeping agri-business in 2013 and says apiculture has a high potential for promoting food security in the country.
Kanja says that bee hives should be
at least 100 metres away from the homestead in a farm or bushy areas with
flowers. In case a house has been constructed for the bee hives a fence over
600 feet should be constructed around the house. This will reduce their
hostility.
Apiculture (Bee keeping) has become an important enterprise in the livestock sub sector. Kanja Waweru, 60, a farmer in Muhotetu Division, Laikipia County started his bee keeping agri-business in 2013 and says apiculture has a high potential for promoting food security in the country.
Kanja says that Muhotetu has a high
potential in production of honey and apicultural activity. He said that capital
investment in bee keeping is low compared to other farm enterprises. The enterprise also requires little land as
fifty (50) colonies require a quarter of an acre. One beehive provides enough
bees to pollinate one acre of crops.
“Bee keeping can improve a farmer’s
livelihood as the income is good and demand is also high. One can also
integrate bee keeping with other farming activities,” said Kanja.
Kanja has kept 25 Langstroth hives. The cost of setting up a beehive varies according to the type of hive used with the Langstroth hive retailing at around Sh5,000. He said the price should not deter a farmer as they can be constructed using locally available materials.
Some of the beehives |
Kanja has kept 25 Langstroth hives. The cost of setting up a beehive varies according to the type of hive used with the Langstroth hive retailing at around Sh5,000. He said the price should not deter a farmer as they can be constructed using locally available materials.
“I decided on the Langstroth hive as
they maximizes honey production while its strength ensures that there is less
chance of damage to combs during removal from the hives and extraction .The
whole honey supers can also be harvested without disturbance of the brood box,”
said Kanja
He has already harvested two hives
and he got eight litres. He sold 30 kg of unrefined honey. He is now set to
harvest for the third time.
Kanja has been selling 300g of
refined honey at Ksh 200 and 500g at Ksh 350. He has already been certified by
the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and thus he is authorized to process and
package honey.
“Beekeepers should aim for the
highest grade of honey to maximize returns from beekeeping,” said Kanja.
Bees are good pollinators of plants,
trees, fruits and crops, thus playing a big role in bio-diversity and
improvement of crop yields. They also encourage environment conservation.
He says many products can be obtained
which are great source of income like; honey, bees wax, pollen, propolis, bee
colonies, bee brood, queen bees, and package bees.
He has been trained by the National
Beekeeping Station (NBS) on bee management. This has enabled him to get
acquainted with the local bee-human relationship.
“Bee stings are an integral part of
beekeeping and a beekeeper has to deal with them,” said Kanja.
Kanja said that harvesting is
normally done between 10 to 12 months after set up. The second harvest takes
place eight months later. Afterwards, harvesting can be carried out every four
months.
The current policy on Apiculture is to
develop a modern beekeeping industry in the country to provide additional
income to rural households.
House where some of the beehives have been kept |
Kanja says that hives should be
properly protected from intense sun so that the bees will be able to get about
the business of collecting nectar to feed the hive instead of water to cool it,
thus increasing yields. Also shading where the bee hives have been placed makes
them less irritable hence facilitating harvest.
He says attracting bees in a hive is
an art that requires good knowledge. He has been using baits, catcher box and
hives to attract bees.
Kanja has urged farmers interested in
bee keeping to critically look into the issue of bee space when constructing
hives. He said bees require space between the sides of each frame and the walls
of the hive.
“When proper bee space is not
followed, bee keeping will be difficult because the bees will be building burr
combs,” said Kanja.
He has been using Sokopepe to get
market tips and also query market prices. He now plans to also use Sokopepe to
sell his honey. He believes that the Sokopepe market will provide him with a
good opportunity not only to market his honey but also to sell at a good price.
“Sokopepe has been connecting
producers with buyers and I believe it will also connect me with a buyer,” said
Kanja.
Kanja also wants to start keeping
proper record of his bee keeping business. He has joined Farm Record Management
Information System – Kenya (FARMIS Kenya) which has been introduced by Sokopepe
Ltd to help farmers automate their farm records.
Some of the challenges he is facing
is pests and lack of proper harvesting equipments. He still does not have bee
suits, veils and smokers.
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