The status of improved beekeeping technologies as resource diversification for addressing climate change risks in Kajiado county, Kenya: constraints and opportunities

Beatrice Mugo¹, Margaret Syomiti¹, Dana Hoag² and Getachew Gebru³

¹ Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, P. Box 30148-00100, NAIROBI
² Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1683, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1683
³ MARIL-Ethiopia, P. O Box 90112. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
jbemug@yahoo.com

Abstract

The impact of climate change is expected to heighten the vulnerability of livestock systems. Livelihood diversification empowers households, giving them a range of livelihood options to draw on, making them more food and income secure. The objective of the current study was to assess the current status of bee keeping, constraints and opportunities among pastoral farmers in kajiado county of Kenya, which could contribute to the knowledge-base in development of community based adaptation projects and policies. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select sample smallholder beekeepers for interview, using semi-structured questionnaire. A sample size of 120 respondents was selected for the study using simple random sampling.

The findings from the study revealed that majority of the respondents (37.9%) were aged between 56-65 years, 31% between  46-55 and 5.2% between 18-35 years old. Majority of the respondents did not attend school (37.9%), with 22.4%, 19.0%, 12.1%, 6.9% and 1.7% having attended lower primary, upper primary, secondary, technical college and university respectively. Higher percent of the respondents indicated 19.1% of men and 16.5% of women practice beekeeping. Men owned greater percent of the livestock in the study area (34%) than women (22%). Local chicken was mainly women’s’ business (90%). Absconding of bees (80%), lack of credit facilities (76%) and lack of marketing information (75%) were cited as the major constraint in beekeeping as an enterprise. Other high scoring constraints included lack of training (62%), low productivity (58%) and lack of better beekeeping technologies 52%). Training and demonstrations, and creating awareness about the existence of funding institutions to these farmers will help them acquire capital which will enable them take up modern bee hive technologies. A further study to establish factors associated with absconding of bees is required in this study area.

Key words: apiculture, constraints, gender, opportunities

Introduction

Evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007) is now overwhelmingly convincing that climate change is real, that it will become worse, and that the poorest and most vulnerable people will be the worst affected. Climate change will have far-reaching consequences for dairy, meat and wool production, mainly arising from its impact on grassland and rangeland productivity. Heat distress suffered by animals will reduce the rate of animal feed intake and result in poor growth performance (Rowlinson 2008). In pastoral and agro-pastoral systems, livestock is a key asset for poor people, fulfilling multiple economic, social and risk management functions. The impact of climate change is expected to heighten the vulnerability of livestock systems and reinforce existing factors that are affecting livestock production systems, such as rapid population and economic growth, rising demand for food (including livestock) and products, conflict over scarce resources.

Climate change and variability are already evident in Kajiado county (GoK 2004).Pastrolism is the primary source of income and food in this particular area. The recurrent droughts and unpredictable rainfall are increasingly affecting livestock and food security in this area and the local community have no option but to diversify their economic activities. Bee keeping has been identified as a livelihood diversification option for this particular community who in many years have wholly depended on pastorolism as their main source of livelihood.

Bee keeping is the art of managing bees in order to obtain honey, bee wax among many other products. It provides food of great nutritional value, enhances seed production through pollination and conserves natural environment (Klein et al 2007).In addition to this, bee keeping requires little capital, less space and does not require good soil and because of this it can be practised beside other farm activities. It can be carried out by men and women and is a suitable activity for women groups, youth groups etc.Because of this numerous economic benefits, bee keeping is emerging as a very successful agricultural practice for rural areas in developing countries (Kukonza 2009). The government of Kenya in its strategy for development of apiculture and emerging livestock, it has identified honey production and development of apiculture as one of the few means by which people in the Arid and semi-arid (ASALs) areas can earn an income and make them better adapt to climate change without damaging the environment they depend on to survive.

Kenya’s potential for apiculture development is estimated at over 100,000 tonnes of honey and 10,000 tonnes of beeswax per annum. At the moment only about one fifth of this potential is being exploited. 80% of Kenya consists of arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) which have high potential in production of honey and apicultural activity is a major occupation in these areas due to the abundance of bee flora. Non ASAL regions also practice beekeeping. 80% of the honey comes from the traditional log hive which compromises on quality and quantity. Many communities in the country still use traditional production systems in form of log hives which are labour intensive and dangerous (Cramb 2003).This have made the management and utilization of honey and other bee products less viable. These hives constitute the single largest number of hive in the country estimated at 1,273,000 with 73% of the hives concentrated in the eastern part of the country (Mwabu 2002). Traditional bee keeping in Kenya has mainly been a male occupation. This is because traditional hives require physical strength and is necessary to climb trees to harvest honey and is not suitable for women due to modest reasons. Harvesting of honey is mainly done at night and sometimes involves stripping naked before climbing trees. Harvesting honey from traditional beehives also required long absences from home, which conflicts with women’s domestic chores.

According to study report by (GoK 2004) revealed that limited value addition was being realised due to minimal investment in technological and market development initiatives. In addition to this, the low priority given to the sector had also affected the scale of production and productivity of beekeeping. It was therefore necessary to explore ways to encourage technological innovation in the honey sector as a means of alleviating rural poverty. It is within this context that an opportunity for women to participate in the honey value chain was recommended. Therefore there is need to popularise modern bee keeping technologies amongst pastoral group especially women farmers as the hives require less physical activity and can be installed closer to their homes. The objective of the current study was to assess the current status of bee keeping, constraints and opportunities among pastoral farmers in kajiado county of Kenya. This could contribute to the knowledge-base in development of community based adaptation projects and policies.  

Methodology

Study site

This study was carried out in Kajiado County, Kenya. Kajiado County is a semi-arid area (zone V) that is characterised by rough terrain with an annual rainfall of 300-600 mm. To the north, the escarpments of the Great Rift Valley rise to form the Ngong hills. The escarpments then stretch southwards to the Eastern side. On the floor are several hills and valleys forming a hilly and rough terrain with some areas having long stretches of grassland plains. Most of the land is covered by grass and shrubs forming shrub vegetation with acacia species being the most prevalent tree. This kind of vegetation is favourable for beekeeping. The main ethnic community found in Kajiado County is the Maasai. Population growth rate is 4.6 per cent; Household size is 4.2; Geographical area of 21,903 Km²; average annual income US $400 in paid income; with infant mortality of 45/1000 (RELMA 2005). The main economic activity among the Maasai in Kajiado County is pastoralism, (keeping cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys).

Sampling Technique

Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select sample smallholder beekeepers for interview. Kajiado County was selected purposively based on the honeybee production potential, availability of bee flora and improved box hive promotion. Kajiado County was sub divided into 4 sub counties which was further subdivided into villages. A total of 120 respondents were selected for the study using simple random sampling.

Data collection and analysis

Both primary and secondary data sources and qualitative and quantitative data types were utilized for this study. Primary data were obtained from sample respondents during June to Sep 2014 by using semi-structured questionnaire through interview method. Secondary data were gathered from various sources such as reports of MoALF at different levels, NGOs, previous research findings, Internet and other published and unpublished materials. The researchers visited the farm and collected data directly talking with the farmer and non farmer. SPSS Version 18 was used to analyze the data. General descriptive statistics, percentages were used to present the data.

Results

The age of the farmers in the study area ranged from 18 to 66 years (Fig 1). The findings from the study revealed that majority of the respondents (37.9%) were aged between 56-65 years, 31% between 46-55 and 5.2% between 18-35 years old. Figure 2 reveals that majority of the respondents did not attend school (37.9%), with 22.4%, 19.0%, 12.1%, 6.9% and 1.7% having attended lower primary, upper primary, secondary, technical college and university respectively (Fig 2).

Higher percentage of respondents indicated that women in this area are not formally employed (1.9%) but do business (25.2%) (Table 1). Only 13.2% of men do business. From the table above, 19.1% of men and 16.5% of women practice beekeeping.

Gender dimensions in family resources ownership

From the findings (Table 2) it is clear that men in this particular farming system own more valued livestock like cattle unlike their female counterparts who own less valued livestock like chicken and bees. 93% of men own cattle while women own only 7% of cattle.

With respect to bee keeping activities, women in this area mainly are involved in honey extraction (18%). From the study, men are mostly involved in the honey harvesting activities and sales (25.3% and 9% respectively).

Major constraints affecting beekeeping in the study area

Table 4 highlights the major constraints faced by respondents in the beekeeping activity. Absconding of bees (80%), lack of credit facilities (76%) and lack of marketing information (75%) were cited as the major constraint in beekeeping as an enterprise. Other high scoring constraints included lack of training (62%), low productivity (58%) and lack of better beekeeping technologies 52%).

Figure 3 shows the farmers major sources of agricultural information. A large percentage stated extension services (46.6%) as their most important source, followed by radio (31%), chief (6.9%), television (5.2%); newspaper (3.4%), NGOs (1.7%) and elders was the least selected (1.7%) in that order.

Discussion

The analysis indicated that the young generation was yet to fully engage in bee keeping. According to reports by New Agriculturalist (2011), the world is home to more than 1 billion young people aged between 15-24 years. Many are unable to fulfil their potential because of poverty, hunger and lack of education. As a result, they lack the skills needed to gain employment, with rural youth typically, but often fruitlessly, migrating in search of economic opportunities. However, given support and the opportunity of employment, young people have the potential to play a significant role in rural development. They deserve support to take advantage of the opportunities opening up such as beekeeping.

From the study, higher percentage of respondents indicated that women in this area are not formally employed, but do business. There was no strong cultural taboo that prohibits women from undertaking beekeeping activities. However, according to some beekeepers, women are not allowed to visit the apiary due to modest reasons. Generally, provision of practical training, protective cloth, beekeeping accessories and introducing affordable and appropriate beekeeping technology in the form of langstroth hive may be one step towards promoting the role of women in beekeeping development. In addition, placing of hives at suitable location for women has to be developed and tested with users at local condition (Adebabay et al 2008). 

From the findings (Table 2), it is clear that men in this particular farming system own more valued livestock like cattle unlike their female counterparts who own less valued livestock like chicken and bees. Equipping women with more skills on this less valued livestock will enable them earn income hence improve their living standards. Constraints to beekeeping as an enterprise such as lack of credit would be solved if these pastoral women farmers can be linked to micro leasing agents. Likewise, low household income among many villagers was known to limit villagers’ capacity to purchase modern beekeeping equipments such as modern hives, harvesting gears and processing equipments. Greater number of the respondents showed that they are still using traditional hives made from logs because they are relatively cheaper. Marketing  was not a major problem in the area since Kajiado county , if they be assisted to produce good quantity of honey ,then it’s will not be difficult to market and also to get good price of honey in the area. Time management was a big constraint to manage beekeeping because it’s a time consuming activity and not possible for female to give proper care and maintenance in the social setup. It was suggested that introducing modern bee keeping technologies will make people in this area successfully practice bee keeping.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• The results presented here show that lack of credit was the main reason why farmers in this particular area did not practice modern bee keeping technologies. Farmers lack money to purchase the modern hives and have opted to stick to traditional hives because according to them they do not need any cash to purchase this hives. Creating awareness about the existence of funding institutions to these farmers will help them acquire capital which will enable them take up modern bee hive technologies.

Acknowledgements

The funding from Colorado State University and reviewers of this manuscript are highly appreciated.

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Received 9 December 2014; Accepted 24 June 2015; Published 1 August 2015

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