Did
you know that honey consumption in Kenya has skyrocketed over the past decade?
This surge is not just about sweetening food; it's a golden opportunity for
many aspiring beekeepers. Beekeeping plays a crucial role in Kenya's economy,
environment, and social structures. Bee farming is a profitable venture of
keeping bees for productive purposes. This article explores the essential
elements of starting and maintaining a successful beekeeping business in this
vibrant country.
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| Bee Harvesting |
Benefits of Bee Keeping
- Promotes use of non-timber forest products.
- Promotes tree planting as bee forage. Improves crop and tree pollination, thus playing a big role in improving crop yields and biodiversity conservation. It is relatively cheap and not competitive with other farming activities in terms of resource needs.
- It requires little land to undertake.
- It has low labor requirement.
- Honey is a source of food.
- Other by-products such as bee wax, bee venom, and royal jelly can be harvested boosting income for bee keepers. To add on, some of these products have therapeutic value.
Getting Started: Setting Up Your Apiary
Avoid setting up in these areas;
1. Busy or high-traffic areas, such as near a road
or footpath.
2. Areas with high levels of pesticide or chemical
use.
3. Areas with insufficient sunlight or airflow.
Factors to Consider
1. Accessibility: Choose a location that is easily
accessible for you to work on and manage the hives. Hive stands are also vital
for easier access compared to hanging beehives as was done traditionally.
2. Space: Make sure that you have enough space for the
number of hives you plan to keep, and that there is room for expansion if
needed. A distance of 10-15 feet between hive stands is ideal.
3. Water Source: Bees need a reliable source of water
to survive, so choose a location near a natural water source such as a pond or
stream or provide a shallow dish of water in the apiary.
4. Windbreaks: Consider providing a windbreak such as a
fence or trees to protect the hives from strong winds.
5. Sun Exposure: Bees need access to sunlight to
regulate the temperature inside the hive, so choose a location with sufficient
exposure to the sun.
Starfruit Cultivation Guide and Nutritional Benefits
Essential Equipment
To
get started, you'll need some basic equipment:
1. Hives
Beekeeping
in Kenya is mainly undertaken using three types of hives, namely; traditional
(log hives), Kenya Top Bar Hive (KTBH) and Langstroth hive. Langstroth hives
are widely used as they offer easy access for honey harvesting.
Regular
hive inspections are crucial. Look for signs of disease and check honey levels.
A monthly check is recommended to ensure all is well
2. Protective Gear: Invest in a bee suit,
gloves, and a veil to protect yourself from stings.
3. Tools: A smoker, hive tool, and
bee brush are necessary for managing your bees.
GETTING A COLONY
Acquiring
bee swarms is an exciting part of starting a new hive as a beekeeper. Bee
swarms are groups of bees that have left their old hive to establish a new one.
There are several ways that a new beekeeper can acquire bee swarms for a new
hive, each with its own steps, equipment, and functions.
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| Bee Harvesting Equipment |
1. Swarm Traps
Swarm
traps are an effective way to capture and relocate bee swarms. These traps are
designed to mimic the conditions of a natural beehive, making them attractive
to passing swarms. You need to have nucleus or catcher box to be able to catch
a swarm of bees and transfer them to the hive. Nucleus is a small hive composed
of 3 to 5 frames.
To
set up a swarm trap, follow these steps;
Choose a location for the trap that is shaded
and sheltered from the wind. Set up the catcher box in an elevated area
accessible to swarming bees. Use a lure such as lemon grass oil or beeswax to
attract bees to the catcher box. Check the trap regularly and relocate any
swarms that are captured to a new hive.
2. Buying colonies
Colonies
can now be purchased from local beekeepers. This can be either in a ready catcher
box or a full beehive. You need to start by finding a reputable beekeeper: When
purchasing a bee colony, it's important to find a reputable beekeeper that has
experience and knowledge in beekeeping. Before purchasing a bee colony, inspect
it thoroughly to ensure that it is healthy and thriving.
3. Cut-Outs
A cut-out is a process of removing bees and their
hive from a location such as a tree, wall, or roof and relocating them to a new
hive. This method requires more equipment and expertise than swarm traps or
bait hives. Wear protective gear such as a bee suit, gloves, and a veil. Use a
smoker to calm the bees and make them easier to handle. Use a bee vac or a
catcher box to collect the bees and transfer them to a new hive. Cut out the
hive using a de-capping knife, being careful not to harm the bees or the queen.
Then transfer as much of the brood combs.
Hives Placement
It
is well known that bees encounter great trouble with pests and other predators
such as ants, lizards, honey badgers, et cetera. Therefore we need to put our hives
where all the above-mentioned enemies will not get access to the hive.
Place your bee hives on the trees or on already prepared stand. Where stands are used they should be at least 1 meter above the ground.
Apis Mellifera Scutellate bee.
For
Langstroth hives, attach the queen excluder placed between the brood chamber
and the super after colonization of the hive. If hives are not near a water source,
provide water for the bees and monitor the hive from time to time until the
honey matures.
Inspect
for, and manage any intruders such ants, beetles, spiders or honey badgers.
These can be managed by greasing the suspension wires, physical removal, or use
of wasp trap.
Some
successful apiary locations in Kenya include areas around Lake Naivasha and the
Rift Valley, where lush vegetation supports healthy bee activities.
Harvesting Honey
Timing
is key when harvesting honey. Look for signs of capped honey cells, indicating
that it’s ready. Harvest by removing mature combs only, which are capped or
partly capped. Remove the combs from
bars leaving about 2 cm for the bees to start building on again.
Honey Extraction
Place
the combs in the extractor e.g. centrifugal extractor. Ensure clean extraction
equipment and environment. Extract the
honey and refine it at a temperature of 40°C for honey and 50°C for water in
the centrifuge.
Filtering and Storage
Sieve
it and measure the water content by using refractometer. Package honey in appropriate containers for
use and or sale. . Avoid direct sunlight and high temperatures for optimal
longevity.
Yield
After
colonization of a hive, the first harvest can be done after 9 months.
Subsequent harvest can happen after 3 or 4 months depending on the environment.
The average honey yield per hive in Kenya can reach up to 30 kg annually,
depending on various factors such as location and management practices.
Market
Honey is priced at Ksh. 500-800 per kilo. With two
harvests each year, one beehive produces at least 16 kilos. If you have 10
beehives, you'll earn Ksh. 80,000. In your first year, you will regain 77% of
the initial investment of Ksh. 102,750, allowing you to enjoy profits in the
years to come.
Carrot Farming Process in Kenya
Farmers'
markets and grocery stores offer direct access to consumers, also the export
market where countries like Europe and the U.S. have high demands for quality
honey. You can successfully market your honey by branding, word-of-mouth too to
attract more buyers.
Value Addition
Diversifying
products can help maximize your profits.
You can consider creating, beeswax
candles which are simple to make and always in demand, or propolis extracts which are known for
their health benefits. These products can create additional income streams
while using by-products from beekeeping.
Pest and Disease Management
One
main challenge affecting my bee farming is bee parasites that can cause bees to
abscond the hives. It’s important for a bee keeper to constantly inspect the
beehives. Common threats to bees in Kenya include Varroa Mites. An effective treatment involves chemical and
non-chemical methods.
Diseases: Foulbrood Disease
Management includes regular hive inspections
for early detection.
Sustainable Beekeeping Practices
Incorporating
sustainable methods helps ensure long-term success. Examples from Kenya
include:
- Organic
Beekeeping: Focuses on natural practices without
chemicals.
- Community
Initiatives: Groups focused on conservation and
education help promote biodiversity.
These sustainable
practices benefit the environment and your business.
Conclusion
Starting
a beekeeping operation in Kenya offers numerous rewards. Whether you seek a new
hobby or a profitable business, understanding the key aspects discussed will
elevate your journey. Explore the fascinating world of beekeeping, and consider
sharing your experiences or insights!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the biggest problem facing be keeping?
Answer: The
most pressing threats to long-term bee survival include: Climate change, habitat
loss and fragmentation, and invasive plants and bees. Also threats posed by
Pests and Diseases.
- How profitable is bee keeping in Kenya?
- What are the requirements for starting bee farming?
- How is the yield in bee keeping?
- How many kilos of honey can one hive produce?
- How do I know when honey is ready for harvesting?
Answer: Once
every frame is capped on each side you'll know that the honey super is
ready to pull.
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