Baringo bees beat climate blues

Baringo County: The Tugen community of Bogoria in Baringo County has discovered a way to go around the harsh climate that has kept them in misery for years: Beekeeping.

The benefits of honey are amazing, and many of the residents are now making a living from beekeeping.

In such a dry land no one can imagine there is plenty of honey and also water melons that are grown through irrigation.

According to Simon Chesang, the chairman of Kapkuikui Livestock Improvement Self Help Group, honey harvesting is a lucrative business.

“As a group, we process and sell honey to local and foreign tourists who visit Bogoria. We also make candles, royal jelly and wax from the honey we harvest. We have seen our lives improve as a result if this honey business, this region is semi-arid and therefore we don’t get a lot from our farms.”

He says honey has several medicinal uses; it treats respiratory tract infections and wounds, among other ailments.

However, the group faces a challenge: How produce their product professionally and market it efficiently.

Many cannot afford to process quality honey. They also use beer or other bottles to package the honey which may compromise quality. It is also not very appealing to some buyers.

According to health experts, the sugar from honey is more soluble than other forms of sugar in the body.

No matter how much sugar from honey is consumed, there are no side effects.

“Honey from Bogoria is sweeter than honey found in other places,” Joan Kabugu, a local tourist says.

Honey production is a very important activity practiced by many in the community. The Tugen beekeepers use various types of hives.

One of them, called the Kapkuikui super log hive, was developed by locals, and combines traditional and modern techniques to obtain a very high yield of honey.

Lake Bogoria acacia honey is harvested twice a year (June-July and September-January). Brown in colour, it has a delicate flavour, with vanilla notes. It is known for its medicinal properties and is used as an antiseptic and a cicatrizing balm. It also aids in digestion.

Another benefit that comes as a result of honey making is pollination of food crops. No wonder the region boasts of the sweetest water melons.

Kenya now has one of the largest and best bee reference laboratories in Africa that is researching issues around beekeeping in Africa.

The laboratory is expected to address the challenges of disease, market and other related issues.

It is located at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology. Prof Suresh Kumar, principal research scientist says it is high time Africa had such a facility to address beekeeping issues as they are key in food security matters because of pollination.