News feature: Honey
The practice of beekeeping (apiculture) dates back many years with research confirming that honey has many health benefits, both nutritional and medicinal.
The abundant market for honey, a sweet liquid that bees produce using nectar from flowers, both locally and internationally is there but despite the promotion of government in the uptake of bee keeping and production of honey, it has been declining.
Mary Wanyoike and her husband share a long standing history for beekeeping, a pursuit they have nurtured for many years. The two who live in Kiambaa, Kiambu County initially engaged in this endeavor on a small scale with only two hives and moved up slowly by slowly in their journey that has now transformed into a commercial venture.
According to Ms. Wanyoike, this journey however was not easy but they were greatly supported by the Community Support and Development Program (COSDEP), which provided crucial training. COSDEP is a nonprofit organization (NGO) dedicated to restoration and enhancement of households’ food, nutritional and income security in Central Kenya.
Under COSDEP’s guidance, Ms. Wanyoike expanded her beekeeping operation to over 20 beehives, with nearly half of them generously supplied by the organization. She reveals that not only did COSDEP impart essential knowledge, but they also taught her how to craft beehives using locally available materials, significantly reducing her expenses.
“COSDEP has also equipped me with a centrifugal machine for processing harvested honey. I am thankful that the training and support they have given me has made me impart the same knowledge to other farmers and specifically to over five groups here in Kiambaa as well as numerous individuals”, she said.
Ms. Wanyoike has now emerged as a beekeeping champion in the region, attracting numerous farmers and groups seeking training at her home. COSDEP and the Institute of Collaborative Engagement (ICE) regularly refer groups and individuals to her for training as she has become an expert and together with her products has even received certification from the Kenya Bee Research Institute who have also trained her.
Currently, in collaboration with Philadelphia group members, Ms. Wanyoike has established a honey shop at Githunguri Shopping Centre. “This shop serves as a platform for all members of our group to sell their honey”, she said and emphasized her commitment to agro ecology farming which she said is chemical-free and therefore a good environment where her honey is produced thus a key factor in its popularity.
Finished honey products, honey is known to have health benefits.
Despite high demand, Ms. Wanyoike acknowledges that their production is still insufficient but attributed the popularity of their honey to its chemical-free nature. In 2021, Kiambu County aggregated 28.6 tons of raw honey while providing training on bee management, honey harvesting and candle making. In 2022, there was a drop in honey aggregation to 12.4 tons, but membership increased to 855.
COSDEPs field Officer Caren Wekesa, commended Ms. Wanyoike and her family for being a role model in bee farming for the region. “Our bee farming training and benchmarking activities that are conducted at Mary’s farm have not gone in vain and we are also supporting her enterprise by providing packaging materials”, noted Wekesa.
Despite being pure and organic honey, Wanyoike still sells her honey at Sh800 for a one kilogramme tin, considering the difficult economic times that Kenyans are going through. According to experts, Bee keeping is one of the climate smart farming activities, which can boost the Kenyan farmers and improve the economy.
Director General, Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Dr. Eliud Kireger says, they have been scaling up Climate Smart Agricultural Practices and realized that Bee keeping is one of climate smart farming activities, which can boost the Kenyan farmers and improve the economy.
“Apiculture is an important value chain in Kenya as it earns farmers about Sh4.5 billion per year, the Country produces about 14,000 metric tonnes of honey and about 140 tonnes of bees wax but has potential of 100,000 metric tonnes of honey and 1000 tons of beeswax”, he said.
He noted that the Country’s demand is about 30,000 metric tonnes and therefore the shortage of 15,000 is imported. Dr. Kireger told KNA that the overall honey production has however increased though marginally by around 1000 metric tonnes but added that with the new technologies coming up they expect an increase thus contributing to the national figure.