Beekeeping touted as game-changer in Kenya's food security strategy

Members of Ndoinet Beekeepers inspecting a beehive during a training session at Ndoinet Forest. [Courtesy]

Beekeeping counties have been called to invest in the venture as it could be the game-changer in achieving food security.

Speaking during the annual World Bee Day in Turkana, Dr Monica Olala from the State Department of Livestock Development emphasised the vital role bees play in crop production and food systems.

She urged counties to prioritise planting native, pollinator-friendly flowering plants to support beekeeping initiatives.

"A large proportion of crops grown in the country depend entirely on bees and other pollinators. Bees are not just a side activity; they are central to rural income and national development," Dr Olala said.

According to verified 2024 data, the apiculture sector contributes approximately Sh19.23 billion to Kenya's agricultural GDP, ranking sixth behind beef, dairy, poultry, goats, and sheep.

World Bee Day, observed every year on May 20th, is a United Nations initiative aimed at highlighting the crucial role bees and other pollinators play in maintaining biodiversity and global food security.

Dr. Olala called on stakeholders to embrace environmentally sustainable practices, including the use of less toxic pesticides, integrated pest management, agroforestry, and the preservation of natural floral patches, also known as "bee hotels"-within farmlands.

"Destructive practices like deforestation, charcoal burning, and careless spraying are wiping out our bee colonies," she cautioned.

Acting County Secretary Joseph Nyang'a reported that in 2024, Turkana County produced 138 metric tonnes of honey valued at Sh128 million, and 48 metric tonnes of beeswax worth Sh32 million.

He attributed this success to consistent investment in training, modern equipment, and the establishment of processing infrastructure.

"The County has allocated at least 5 percent of its 2023/2024 budget to the Department of Livestock to support apiculture," Nyang'a said.

"We have distributed 1,200 modern beehives, trained over 640 community beekeepers, and launched a state-of-the-art honey processing and value addition centre in Naotin," he added

He noted that 68 percent of beekeepers in Turkana are women and youth making apiculture not just a tool for food security but also a means for social empowerment.

Assistant County Commissioner Andrew Mutuma highlighted Turkana's natural advantage, citing its rich biodiversity and the wealth of indigenous knowledge as critical resources that could be tapped for sustainable beekeeping.