Beekeeping as a tool for conservation and income generation in rural Kenya
Case Study C0021
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| Date | 2002 |
| Agency | Honey Care Africa Ltd |
| Donor/support agency | UNDP Aga Khan foundation European Commission |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Productive landscape |
| Geographic coverage | Kenya |
| Locality | through out country |
| Biodiversity focus | Habitat of Area |
| Development focus | Small Scale Rural farmers of Kenya |
| Conservation goals | none |
| Poverty reduction goals | none |
Summary
Honey Care Africa Ltd. is a private company, which works in a mutually beneficial relationship with rural beekeepers to reduce poverty and promote conservation in Kenya. Honey Care is promoting bee keeping in arid and semiarid rural areas of Kenya, traditionally considered beekeeping regions. This is an easy, low input livelihood option, requiring just hives and some other equipment. Company manufactures and supplies hives and related bee keeping equipment to organisations, communities and individuals. It also provides free training in bee keeping. So far, it has involved 2000 farmers and over 10000 hives have been produced either on a loan or on cost sharing basis through a number of local organisations. Through 'Money for Honey' scheme, company gives a guarantee to purchase the honey on a fair price. A farmer can earn about US$ 200-250 per year from four hives. Company has also developed a micro leasing or hire-purchase scheme, to allow people who can not afford to buy equipment outright to start beekeeping themselves. This has enabled poorest of farmers to earn money without needing any start up capital. Though beekeeping is considered an individual activity, in many communities it has brought farmers together, sharing equipment and learning from each other's experiences. It has a positive impact on biodiversity as well. Through sustainable income generation, natural resource rich areas are protected from over exploitation and encroachments. Also, under 'Bees for Tress' scheme, honey is bought at premium from locations where trees are being planted and farmers can be given hives as direct and immediate incentive. Bees also perform an ecological function of pollination, increasing biodiversity.
Conservation impact
Through sustainable income generation, natural resource rich areas are protected from over exploitation and encroachments. Also, under 'Bees for Tress' scheme, honey is bought at premium from locations where trees are being planted and farmers can be given hives as direct and immediate incentive. Bees also perform an ecological function of pollination, increasing biodiversity.
Poverty reduction impact
So far, it has involved 2000 farmers and over 10000 hives have been produced either on a loan or on cost sharing basis through a number of local organisations. Through 'Money for Honey' scheme, company gives a guarantee to purchase the honey on a fair price. A farmer can earn about US$ 200-250 per year from four hives
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Facilitating access to markets
Local conservation enterprise opportunities
Partnership with private sector
Sustainable Use
Reference 1
http://www.undp.org/equatorinitiative/secondary/equator_prize2002.htm#kenya
Reference 2
http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=889
More information
Farouk Jiwa, Operations Manager, Honey Care Africa Ltd., P.O. Box 24487, Muringa Ave, Jamhuri Park, Nairobi, Kenya , Tel: 254-2-574448, E-mail: fjiwa@insightkenya.com
Related records above this one:
- Honey Care Africa Ltd (Organisation O0031)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (Organisation O0146)
- Aga Khan Foundation (Organisation O0003)
- European Commission (EC) (Organisation O0160)