Beekeeping, the new ecological cow for small farmers

The nature-based business is a new terminology that does not escape the ears of many small farmers.

It's an eco-friendly way to engage in economic activities where the community invests in nature conservation and then waits for the fruits that go with it.

Some activities include agriculture, agrotourism, nature tourism, ecotourism and eco-entrepreneurship.

Beekeeping, however, tops the list of nature-based companies that encourage thousands of small farmers to diversify into rewarding beekeeping that is gaining momentum in some parts of Nyandarua County.

million. John Muturi, director of the beekeeping department of Friends of Kinangop Plateau, an organization behind the initiative, says the region has more than 20,000 hives owned by about 300 farmers, compared to 60 farmers 10 years ago .

He says that a majority of farmers own between 10 and 100 hives.

In the village of Murungaru, there is Mrs. Lydia Ndaire, 60, who is resting in the shade of native trees.

A few meters away is a small garden with fruit trees. Further on, a small plot with white hives. Mrs. Ndaire is relaxed because this morning she won Sh700 after selling 20 kg of milk produced by her two cows.

She is now waiting for the evening trading post where she will pocket more sales for Sh420, which will bring her a total of 1,120 shillings.

From his simple calculations, half of the money is the cost of production, covering labor and food, and the rest is profit.

Mrs. Ndaire bought the two dairy cows last year after selling honey from her 15 hives.

"I sold the 80kg of honey that I harvested at the beginning of last year by selling each kilo to Sh600 by ambading 48,000 Sh that I bought with both calves. . "

In Muthaiga Village, Mrs. Ruth Muringe is among the pioneer beekeepers in her area and plans to double the number of hives in two years, now that she has no tuition burden around by the neck.

She says that each hive produces 20 kg in a single crop, made two or three times a year, depending on weather conditions.

"I used beekeeping money to educate my children and I'm now using it to support the education of my grandchildren. not compare potato cultivation with beekeeping, especially after comparing work, land size and other production costs in potato farming, "says Muringe.

She remembers the time she sold honey to raise 18,000 shillings to pay for the occasional workers who harvested potatoes from her farm.

"The potato market was so poor that we decided to harvest for pay the workers, "she says.

In the village of Mwihoti, Mr. Wachira Kariuki, a father of four, used the profits of his 10 hives to venture into the hotel industry, the Plovers Eco-Camp and Home Stay, a nature conservation company. services including environmental education, cultural tourism, agrotourism, ornithology and botanical excursions.

The director of beekeeping, Mr. Muturi, says that it's a good deal because there is a market for honey.

Here, farmers use Langstroth hives, each sold to a subsidized Sh6, 500 of the usual Sh7, 500 from other suppliers, whose recommended spacing is 3 by 3 feet between the bars.

"For commercial beekeeping, we advise the farmer to start with 15 hives, but one can always start with everything he or she has then gradually increase.

" Depending on weather conditions It is important for a farmer to have the bee farm inspected every month or every two months to make sure that the colony is not attacked by any disease or insect, Muturi says.

The biggest challenge for beekeepers is the use of agricultural chemicals, which has drastically reduced the population of bees, which takes up to six months to colonize a hive, unlike 10 years ago, when it took about a week

Farmers plan to add value to maximize their earnings and they have already purchased some of the equipment they need to the work.

"With the processing plant In the meantime, farmers will be able to extract the eight by-products of beekeeping, now that they can only produce and sell honey, "Muturi said.

Students from Naikarra High School in Narok West show how honey is harvested at the launch of a beekeeping unit.