By Micah Sali
KeLCoP is a six-year project jointly funded by the Government of Kenya and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
As part of this initiative, KeLCoP has provided 140 Langstroth beehives, 30 supers, 13 harvesting kits, 13 catcher boxes, and two full sets of harvesting protective gear to three apiculture farming groups.
This support aims to boost honey production in Bungoma County by increasing the number of beehives available to farmers and providing essential protective gear for honey harvesting.
During the handover of the beekeeping equipment in Kaptama, Livestock Chief Officer Andrew Musungu highlighted the viability and profitability of apiculture, emphasizing its potential for accessing broader markets.
Apiculture involves keeping and maintaining bees and their hives. In recent times, the beekeeping business has seen rising demand for its products, including raw honey, beeswax, and royal jelly.
By diversifying agricultural practices, farmers can embrace apiculture, which offers substantial profitability.
The initiative is set to empower farmers in two sub-counties within Bungoma County. The pioneer groups benefiting from the project are apiculture farming groups at Kapcheko SLCA (Small Livestock Commercialization) in Mt. Elgon Sub-County and Naitiri/Kabuyefwe Ward in Tongaren Sub-County.
This support addresses a key challenge for apiculture farmers, who previously lacked the necessary protective gear for efficient honey harvesting.
In addition to apiculture, the KeLCoP project includes several other components, such as the establishment of community-based animal health workers, provision of veterinary drugs and vaccines, construction of livestock markets, and development of value chains for livestock products like milk, meat, and hides.
The ultimate goal of the KeLCoP project is to contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth in Kenya by increasing the incomes of small-scale livestock farmers and promoting the commercialization of the country’s livestock sector.
Ends.
Bungoma County Livestock Chief Officer Andrew Musungu (in black suit) hands over beehives to farmers in Mt. Elgon on Wednesday, July 25, 2024.
