International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, European Union sign Sh1.4b deal to boost bee farming

By LONAH KIBET

Kenya: International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and European Union have signed Sh1.44 billion agreement to establish a laboratory for research and capacity building on bee health.

The project, also in collaboration with Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resource, includes construction of four bee health satellite stations in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Liberia.

EU Ambassador Lodewijk Briet said the project will respond to threats affecting honey production worldwide brought about by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) as seen in Europe, America and parts of Africa.

“The effects of widespread CCD would seriously harm livelihoods of millions of rural resource-poor farmers as well as commercial farmers,” said Briet on Monday.

The project is expected to be functional by November. It will integrate multi-level approach from local to African continent and address needs to complete research and set up reference laboratories in Africa.

Briet added the project would respond to the demand of having a single certification system and address the need to harmonise current policies governing bee protection and honey production across Africa.

He said it would also ensure the roles of farmers and private sector are placed at the forefront. ICIPE director general Christian Borgemeister, who signed the agreement, said the project would help improve and preserve the health of bees in Africa.

The project is funded under EU Food Security Thematic Programme budget line for 2011 to 2013 as part of strategy on advancing African agriculture, which provides long-term framework for assistance in line with New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

In Kenya, beekeeping is mainly done in rural areas. The economic activity, it is estimated, generates about Sh4.3 billion annually.

 The money, in particular, comes from honey production, which farmers produce up to  25,000 metric tonnes annually. The Government put in place National Beekeeping Policy and a monitoring plan to boost the trade.

The documents highlightbest practices in the sector, with quality and standards being the point of focus. Some of the honey produced in Kenya is exported.