Bee keeping is one of the most traditional activities that has been practised in Kenya since time immemorial. But come to think of it, why is the activity still booming even in this century? As of 2021, Kenya was the 4th highest honey producer in Africa after Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Angola.
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| Bee Harvesting. |
Apiculture,
which is the practise of bee keeping, involves the maintenance of bee colonies
in hives for production of honey and products such as wax, bee pollen and royal
jelly. To better understand the practise of bee farming in Kenya, we shall need
to answer some of the most asked questions on bee keeping in this article.
What
do you need to start a profitable bee farm in Kenya?
With
the modernized technology, bee keeping has become easier than it was many years
ago. However, starting a profitable bee farm in Kenya requires careful planning
and investment. Some of the essential elements are:
1.
Knowledge and training
Any
aspiring bee farmer should purpose to gain expertise through training programs
on bee keeping to understand the basics of the whole practise, to understand
the bee species, their behaviour, and the common challenges in this sector.
Africanized honeybees are more defensive than European bees and therefore, it’s
important to receive proper training and handling techniques that are crucial
to manage them effectively and safely.
2.
A good location/ Apiary set up
An
aspiring beekeeper should choose a suitable location for bee keeping. A
suitable location for bee keeping should be a place that is less disturbed, far
from noise or human activities with access to forage and water sources. A beehive
should be located near high producing nectar plants like sunflower, bananas,
lavenders, legumes, pumpkins, flowering broccoli etc.
3.
Hive and Hive equipment
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| Hive Equipment. |
Starters in bee farming need high quality hives that are strong and durable to house their bees. The hives should be simple, easy to maintain and easily accessible for hive inspection and honey harvesting. Other equipment that a bee farmer should have include a pair of gloves, uncapping fork that is effective for removing comb caps without damaging the comb and a bee suit that is meant to offer maximum protection from bee stings.
4. Best honeybee breeds
There are many different bee species in the world but the best bees for bee keeping are often bee species that can easily adapt to local conditions. In Kenya, the best bees for beekeeping are African honeybee subspecies with the most common being Apis Mellifera Scutellate, a type of Africanized honeybee.
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| Apis Mellifera Scutellate bee. |
African
honeybees are well adapted to the local climate and environmental conditions in
Kenya, they show resistance to certain pests and diseases, they have very high
honey productivity, and they can perfectly survive even during challenging
conditions.
How
many bee hives per acre?
The
ideal number of bee hives per acre depends on a combination of ecological and
economic factors. It’s often a balance between maximizing production and
ensuring the well-being of the bees as well as the surrounding environment. The
number of hives per acre depend on factors such as:
§ The
beekeeping methodology
The
approach to bee keeping, whether it’s traditional, modern, or commercial can
influence hive density. Traditional methods may have fewer hives per acre
compared to modern or commercial setups.
§ Ecological
Conditions
The
environment, the floral resources influence the number of hives to be set up
greatly. Areas with abundant nectar and pollen sources are likely to have
higher hive densities.
§ Bee
species
The type
of bees being kept can impact how many hives can be sustained in an acre due to
factors such as foraging, bee aggressiveness, nectar and pollen preferences and
colonization patterns.
§ Beekeeper
Expertise
The
skill and the expertise of the beekeeper matters when considering the number of
hives to set up in an acre. A knowledgeable and experienced beekeeper can
manage more hives efficiently.
Proper
and Safe ways of harvesting honey
Honey
harvesting should be done with care to ensure both beekeeper safety and bee
health.
Honey
harvesting should be done when the comb is almost fully capped. The harvester should
be wearing the appropriate attires such as a bee suit, gloves, and a veil to
minimise the risk of stings.
During
harvesting, a beekeeper can perform smoking to calm the bees and reduce
aggression to make the process safer. Uncapping fork should be used to gently
remove bees from frames without destroying the combs. A honey harvester should
leave enough honey in the hive for the bees to sustain themselves, especially
during the colder months.
Importance
of bee keeping
Beyond
the sweet taste of honey, bee farming in Kenya has far-reaching implications,
impacting livelihoods, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture. Some of the
various advantages of bee farming include:
§ Honey
production
Bee
keeping is a primary source of honey production. Honey is a valuable, natural
sweetener with diverse uses and has potential economic value.
§ Pollination
Pollination
is a vital ecological process that facilitates the reproduction of flowering plants.
Bee keeping enhances crop pollination, improving yields for various fruits,
vegetables, and cash crops. This also contributes to plant diversity and
maintains an ecosystem balance.
§ Food
security
Increased pollination results in better crop production,
contributing to food security for both local consumption and potential export.
§ Income
Generation
Bee keeping provides a sustainable source of income for
communities through the sale of honey, wax, and other bee-related products.
§ Medicinal
benefits
Bee products such as propolis and royal jelly, have medicinal
properties hence adding a health-related dimension to bee keeping.
Due
to the country’s diverse flora and the climatic advantage, the future of bee
farming is very promising with the market highly increasing domestically and internationally.
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