The following case study demonstrates the positive impact beekeeping can have on lives and livelihoods. This particular example is of a youth group - beekeeping is an ideal activity for youth as they don't require access to land to carry out the enterprise. Land is often a limiting resource for youth as land is often controlled by their parents. Beekeeping productively occupies the youth giving them business experience and teaches them a respect for and an understanding of their local environment.

Mr. David Mutai, Kenyan Beekeeper

David is a 25 year old Kenyan man and in 1997 made his first simple bee hive. He got the idea to begin beekeeping from his local school. He placed his first hive in a forest near a river bank which he later had to move due to poor security. He was able to harvest up to 20kgs of honey per year which he used as food.

In 2002, David and other local youths came together to form Segemiat beekeeping self-help group. In 2003 the new group of enthusiastic beekeepers had their first contact with the Baraka Agricultural College/Self Help Development International beekeeping outreach project through the local Ministry of Agriculture extension worker. A local carpenter was trained on how to make improved Kenya Top Bar Hives. After training the group collectively purchased a tree which they sawed up to make 31 beehives. In 2004 another tree was purchased and 45 more group hives made. Making their own hives is much cheaper than purchasing expensive factory beehives and makes the group self reliant. In addition to hive making the group also received practical on-site training on beekeeping skills. Also members were trained in honey processing, business, leadership and how to train others (Training of Trainers).

David says he sees big opportunities in beekeeping. There is potential to harvest 60kgs of honey per hive per year (3 harvests) which can sell on the local market for 7,000-8,000Ksh (€75 to €85 per hive per year).

I addition to a share in group harvests (David gets a percentage of group honey sales) David also has 2 log hives and 5 Kenya Top Bar Hives of his own. Out of 5,000Ksh (€55) earned from honey sales in December 2004 David paid 1,000Ksh to the group (which will be used to buy another tree to make more hives). Of the 4,000Ksh remaining David spend 1,500Ksh to rent an acre of land. The remaining 2,500Ksh was used to buy seeds and fertilizers. David says the income from beekeeping saves the family from selling a cow to pay for the land rent, seeds and fertilizer.

In addition to making money from honey sales David also offers his services in harvesting other peoples beehives. The charges from this are 200ksh per hive and he can earn 1,000Ksh per night for this work.

David’s vision for the future with the assistance of the Baraka/SHDI beekeeping outreach project is to expand his beekeeping enterprise and also add more value to his honey through improved processing and packing his honey.

Note:

Because of the success of Segemiat Beekeeping Group a number of new beekeeping groups have been formed in the Kedowa area and are being assisted with beekeeping training by Segemiat group (beekeepers teaching other beekeepers!).