Beekeeping In Kenya

Beekeeping is the art of managing bees in order to obtain honey, beeswax and other bee products for both food and income (and sometimes medicine). It is also an ideal activity for groups such as women’s groups, youth groups, men’s groups, church groups etc. as an income generating activity. We have seen a number of very active youth groups involved in beekeeping – the youth can generate income without having to own land which can be a major constraint to other income generating activities.

Beekeeping requires little space and compliments other farm activities.

Beekeeping does not need good soil.

Overview on Beekeeping in Kenya

Over the years several private service providers, NGOs, Projects, Government agencies and departments have been carrying out training of farmers in beekeeping in their own ways without uniformity. In other words there have been many different training manuals/guides being used by the different stakeholders in the apiculture industry, some of which are sub-standard. This practice has for long undermined efforts to enforce compliance to code of practice, standard operating procedures and quality standards in apiculture industry, hence the need for harmonization and uniformity.

The purpose of bee-keeping is to produce and sell as much honey as possible. Beekeeping is a means to diversify livelihoods and make the best use of resources available to us. A diversified
livelihood is a more secure one.

Beekeeping also has immense benefits in terms of provision of pollinators which enhance crop yields. Bees are environmentally friendly and so are beekeepers. I have seen many beekeeping groups initiate tree nurseries as they realize the importance of enhancing the environment to improve their honey yields. Also beekeepers are the most active in safeguarding natural environments as they know their honey crops are dependant on local vegetation – mostly trees, as their source of nectar.

Better beekeeping requires good management of the bees and of the hives. Anyone, young or old, men or women, can keep bees. Beekeeping needs very little land, time or equipment. It is an ideal activity for small scale farmers in Kenya and other African countries.

Farmers who want to keep bees generally have two fears:

1. A lack of information about bee-keeping This is a common problem – where can they get relevant information?
2. A fear of bees Many people have started beekeeping only to run into problems with excessive stinging of bees resulting in the farmer getting rid of the bees. Knowledge on how to keep and handle bees properly can overcome this problem.

This article will assist you with information on beekeeping in Kenya and this will help you overcome your fears.

Honey Bees In Kenya

There are many different species of bees in the world – most of them solitary or live alone. A few species of bees are kept to produce honey. In Kenya the most important species is called the honeybee or Apis mellifera. This is the species of bee that is familiar to everyone. It is this species of bee that this book is about. Within this species there are a number of races of bees in Kenya which have their own particular characteristics. We have Apis mellifera scutellata, Apis mellifera monticola, Apis mellifera yeminitica (nubica) and Apis mellifera littorea.

Stingless Bees:

There are also species of stingless bees in Kenya. These bees also produce honey which is prized as a medicine. Stingless bees can be kept in small hives but are not kept commercially in Kenya at the moment. However there has been renewed interest in these bees recently with the discovery of new species in Kakamega by a scientist working for the National Museums of Kenya.

Apart from honeybees (Apis mellifera) there are other types of bees in Kenya which collect nectar and make honey. These are stingless bees which usually live in holes in the ground. There are many species of stingless bees (Meliponula) in Kenya and these are yet unexploited on a commercial  basis.

In Brazil and India these bees are exploited because of their ability to make good quality medicinal honey. This honey is prized as a cure for baldness and is said to reduce impotence. These bees can yield up to 5kgs per season. Stingless bees are known to be the best pollinators as they are able to penetrate deeper into the flower. Baraka Agricultural College, Molo and also the National bee station at Lenana, Nairobi have started keeping stingless bees. Stingless bees can be kept in small hives. The bees store their honey in small pots which can be harvested daily with a clean syringe!

The importance of Beekeeping

Beekeeping is the science and art of keeping bees using best practices. Beekeeping is very important, for the production of honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen (bee bread), royal jelly and bee venom; for food, medicine and income. Beekeeping is also important for pollination and recreational activities. There are various reasons for keeping bees, namely:-

1. For cultural purposes

   Honey is used for beverage brewing and occasionally served at important cultural ceremonies such as weddings. It is also served to very important guests as sign of high regard. The Maji  maji rebellion used bees as a weapon to defend themselves against the colonialists. Honey was used in Egypt as cosmetics and also for embalming the Egyptians dead pharaohs. Honey was among the tithes and offertory given by the Jews to the Levites in their culture. In some African cultures honey is also used to pay dowry.

2. As source of food

   Honey is delicious and nutritious. It is an important food for many people in Uganda. It is consumed whole or mixed with other foods as supplement. Among the Langi and Acholi, honey is mixed with simsim and groundnut paste. Bee brood (larvae and pupae) have high nutritional value and are fed to malnourished children. Royal jelly and pollen are consumed for their high protein value.

3. As source of medicine

   Bee products such as bee venom, honey and propolis are used for treatment of many  conditions following the antibiotic nature of the products. The conditions/diseases treated using bee products include stomach upsets, diarrhea, vomiting, wounds, burns, cough, measles, false teeth, toothaches and fungal infections. It also helps to boost the immunity of people living with HIV/AIDS.

4. For income generation

   The honeybee products can be marketed locally or abroad to get money, with or without value addition. Beekeeping industry also provides incomes to various stakeholders in the value chain. These include bee farmers, artisans, pharmaceutical industry, food, beverage industry, honey dealers among others.

5. Pollination

   The honeybees provide pollination services, thereby playing a vital role in food production and overall agricultural productivity. Over 75% of all the crops in sub Saharan Africa benefit from pollination. Bees are considered the most efficient pollinators because they have hairy bodies which easily pick up pollen grains as they move about in flowers. During a single day one bee may visit several hundred flowers. So bees are important to farmers. More bees means better pollination and high yields. In other countries pollination by bees is hired and fetches additional money to the beekeeper.

6. Conservation of natural resources

   Beekeeping is a non destructive activity that could be employed in the conservation of biodiversity in protected areas. Households living adjacent these areas can support the conservation efforts of these resources by establishing apiaries within or at the boundary of these protected areas. Farmers realizing that vegetation is a source of forage for bees will guard against the destruction and be encouraged to plant more plants for supplying pollen and nectar. In the process many plants are conserved and protected from destruction.

7. Hobby

   Other people keep bees as a hobby.

8. Api-Tourism and research

   Establishment of bee reserves for purposes of tourist attraction and research holds a big potential for the future.

9. Apitherapy

   Bee products are used in the treatment of many human ailments. For example, bee venom is an important remedy for many ailments such as Arthritis, Parkinson disease and other diseases related to the nervous system. The venom can be obtained through bee stings.

Handling Bees

• Many people are afraid of bees because they sting. All of us have heard of stories where bees attacked, and even killed, people and livestock (African bees can be very aggressive and need to be handled carefully). Like other forms of livestock, bees must be handled with respect and care. If handled properly, bees will not cause any problems.
• Some bees tend to sting less than other types. A beekeeper who frequently inspects his hives can easily tell those bees which are better and more docile. He can then eliminate the more aggressive bees and breed from the docile ones. (Not all African bees are aggressive – I have worked bees in Northern Somalia which were very docile and didn’t require a veil!).
• With frequent handling bees appear to become ‘used’ to being inspected and therefore less
  aggressive. A beekeeper can come to know the character of his bees. If you have many hives number them and keep records at each inspection of the bee’s behaviour. Eliminate aggressive colonies.

When Handling Bees

• Always wear a bee suit and take the time to put it on properly. Many people do not do this and get stung when the hives are open. There is no need for this. If you don’t know how to do it, get someone to help you (your experienced friend).
• Avoid wearing woollen clothes because they agitate bees which become stuck in them.
• Avoid drinking alcohol, using strong smelling soaps or sprays all of which may aggravate
  the bees.
• Always use a smoker when handling bees. Smoke makes the bees suck honey from the combs and calms them down (it also masks alarm smells the bees use to communicate). Do not let the smoker go out during the operation or the bees can become aggressive. Keep plenty of smoker fuel handy as you work. It is always better to have two smokers alight than one, in case one goes out.
• Start with the least aggressive colonies always. This will allow you to work in peace with the pleasant colonies first.
• Work gently and quietly. Do not knock or bang the hive as this can make the bees angry.
• Always handle the bees in the evening between 5.30pm and darkness (initially be careful –once you know your bees and how aggressive they are – you will know the best time to handle them). If the bees become aggressive at this time then they have a chance to cool down before the following morning. They also seem to be less aggressive in the cool of the evening. For bees which you have never handled before, or for very aggressive bees, take the extra precaution of handling the bees at dusk using a torch to see the bees.
• When handling avoid crushing the bees and making sudden movements. Work carefully and with confidence. Remain calm even if the bees become aggressive. If bees appear to be getting out of control, close up the hive and try again another day. If bees get into your veil – remain calm – walk to a safe distance before trying to rectify the problem.
• Work the hives with two or more people at a time. One person can lift out the combs while the other uses the smoker. This allows better control of the bees.
• Do not stand in front of the hive entrance when examining the hive. Bees flying in and out may become agitated to find their way blocked. Always cut down disturbance to the bees in every way you can.
• Advise any onlookers to move away quietly if stung covering their eyes. No running about waving the arms as this can annoy the bees.
• Remove bee stings from the skin as soon as possible using a hive tool or your nail to scrape off the sting. Trying to pull out the sting tends to squeeze in more venom. Use smoke to cover the scent of a sting. When a bee stings this scent will attract other bees to sting you again if you do not use smoke.
• On finishing the job close up the hives. Do not go directly to where you are to remove your beesuit. Take a route via bushes or tall maize sugarcane etc. if around. Rub yourself against the leaves to rid yourself of bees which might be following or on you.

In time, as you gain experience as a beekeeper, you will be able to judge the mood of the bees more accurately and handle them calmly. However for the first few times it is better to get a friend to help you.

Warning: Some people can get an allergic reaction to bee stings. The normal response in most people is some localised swelling. If you see someone who has swellings all over the body and has difficulty in breathing take the person immediately to the doctor for treatment. Severe allergic reactions to bee  stings can be fatal. However such cases are rare. For most people a few stings may actually be beneficial. Bee venom is used to treat arthritis and can be extracted from bees commercially

The current status of the Kenyan Beekeeping Industry

The majority of Kenyan beekeepers still use traditional systems of beekeeping. These are simple fixed comb, mostly hollow log hives. This is in spite of over 30 years of beekeeping extension carried out by Government and Non Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) to promote improved hives – mostly the Kenya Top Bar Hive – an intermediate technology hive.

In the last 10 years there has been a major push by some NGO’s, and private companies and supported by major donors to introduce the Langstroth frame hive, used in Europe and America. There is conflicting information on the impact of these hives with those promoting the hives claiming success. However information collected in a number of recent beekeeping studies indicate limited impact on enhanced production of bee products and improving beekeeper’s livelihoods.

Conflicting information on different production technologies also results in confused farmers who are receiving different messages from different extension agents. In relation to bee product marketing, information collected indicates that the Kenyan honey market is under developed due to low volumes and that volumes and quality have not been reached for export.

Kenya has been licensed to export honey to the European Union since 2003, however no honey has yet been exported because of a shortage of bee product production which is currently insufficient to meet local demand with significant quantities of imported honey in the Kenyan market – much of this from Tanzania and repackaged as Kenyan honey.

Opportunities exist for the development of Fair Trade and Organic honey export markets due to Kenya’s largely pollution free environment and disease free bees. It is reported that local production of honey has improved in recent years due to reduced official honey imports. However this may be explained by an increased cross border trade in honey, mostly from Tanzania, not  captured in official statistics, marketed as Kenyan honey on local markets.

Other issues of importance affecting the Kenyan beekeeping industry include:

• There is a lack of a clear Government beekeeping policy (which is now under development). Different agencies take different approaches to beekeeping with no national coordinating body resulting in a disorganized and fragmented industry.
• Environmental degradation is a major issue – mostly forest destruction/charcoal burning which is resulting in a reducing beekeeping potential in Kenya.
• There is little or no beekeeping research in Kenya
• Beekeepers are often fragmented and disorganized and difficult to reach due to poor infrastructure resulting in difficulties in bulking honey for marketing.

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