Beekeeping in Tanzania and Kenya : 23
We travelled with the trainers and, on this visit, we taught labelling, marketing and how to use wax moulds for candles. The honey processing plant itself had been set up many years ago by a Canadian charity, but it had been out of use and become very run down. Some of the staff have brought it back into production – a great success story.
Large-scale and Small-scale Mary, David, Julian and John in Arusha
Perspectives on African Beekeeping
My overall impressions from the conference reinforced my experience working in Uganda. There are two perspectives on African beekeeping. One idea is that Africans should keep western- type hives (Langstroths) with all the complications that this involves. The other point of view is that KTBs (Kenyan top-bar hives) and log hives should be promoted and beekeepers should be encouraged to add value to hive products through marketing, etc. Bees Abroad trains beekeepers to make a living from keeping bees. I have visited many apiaries in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya where different types of hives can be seen. Log hives and KTBs have a higher occupancy of bees.
The Project in Nanyuki, Kenya
From Arusha, we travelled to Nanyuki in Kenya, to the project that John and Mary have been running for three years, a typical length for a Bees Abroad project. Our base was The Old House Compound which is used by many officials to have meetings. By chance, on John and Mary’s last visit, they met the Governor of Laikipia and the Minister of Trade. They have both been a great help in opening doors. In this region, many of the local communities had relied on selling bead jewellery. Unfortunately, the Chinese are
May 2015 Vol 97 No 5
making and exporting this type of jewellery to Africa, driving the price down and flooding the market. It is all the more reason to exploit honey and beekeeping. The target for the project was that Bees
Abroad should raise the living standards of at least 900 families. Although ambitious, this has been well surpassed. We spent two weeks in Laikipia county, which is half the size of Wales. Much of our time was spent travelling and holding meetings with groups of beekeepers. Before setting off, we had to check the weather as some roads were so bad that if it rained they were impassable.
Beekeeping in Laikipia
Huge quantities of nectar are produced in Kenya, year in, year out, so the potential for honey production is enormous. Laikipia county is divided into four districts, each with a beekeeper trainer who can speak the local language. The trainers themselves are taught by Bees Abroad volunteers. Many groups were miles inland over very rough roads, so each trainer is provided with a motorcycle to get to the group members.
Groups gave the visitors a very warm welcome and showed them their apiaries
One of the large-scale beekeepers we met (2500 hives) uses and produces Langstroth hives. He complained to us that he had problems with varroa and his yields were suffering. Some of his apiaries had large numbers of hives placed close together. By contrast, smaller apiaries (20–30 hives spread well apart) may help to reduce the spread of the mite. Varroa is generally not a big problem with small-scale beekeepers in Kenya.
Most beekeepers rely on colonisation by absconding and migrating swarms. Well- baited hives and good livestock husbandry makes a huge difference. ‘If you look after your livestock, they will look after you.’ As a livestock farmer I know this well.
Group Meetings
I was impressed with the meetings we had with the groups. Small settlements miles from anywhere would welcome us into their compounds with singing and dancing.
Bees Abroad
Bees Abroad is a charity run by volunteers and all donations are spent on training and very little on equipment. Beekeeping groups are taught how to make hives and clothing, how to sell honey and hive products. We say: ‘You must be independent and not donor dependent’. This is the most difficult aspect of training as charities have been pouring money into Africa for years and, for many, this has become a way of life. I dread the day it stops. One thing for sure is that bees will continue to gather nectar and produce thousands of tonnes of honey each year. Whether beekeepers choose to take full advantage is up to them and their mind set. The Bees Abroad charity is certainly making
a difference and punching well above its weight. Why not climb ‘Abroad’? You know it makes sense. More information can be found on the Bees Abroad website:
www.beesabroad.org.uk ♠
www.bee-craft.com
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