By Kamau John
Worth Noting:
- Kirika also noted that there is high demand for bee products in the market, saying that farmers should take advantage of the situation and make fortunes from beekeeping.
- “There are many bee products that are in high demand in the market currently. The supply is very low and this is an opportunity for our farmers to exploit so that they can earn a decent living,” she said.
- She quipped that the programme is also aimed at providing alternative job opportunities to youths in the region and help save majority of youngsters from the jaws of alcoholism and drug abuse. She reiterated that her initiative is meant to empower and support families against alcoholism and substance abuse.
Farmers in Gatundu North constituency have received a major boost in their farming after receiving crucial training on beekeeping to better their livelihoods.
Rosemary Kirika Foundation in partnership with Bellafam Africa and Equity Bank has already imparted crucial apiculture training to over 300 farmers drawn from various villages in Gituamba and Githobokoni wards.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony of some 60 Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) in Gathaite village on Saturday, the Foundation’s founder Rosemary Kirika said that the programme is aimed at providing farmers with an alternative source of income.
Kirika who’s also the Kiambu County Deputy Governor noted that some of the training the farmers received include general beekeeping, honey bee biology and behavior, bee botany, beekeeping equipment, honey bee diseases, pests and predators, hive products processing and marketing and product utilization and quality control.
She noted that beekeeping is a lucrative venture that has not been exploited especially in Gatundu North adding that farmers must diversify and embrace beekeeping as a business.
Kirika also noted that there is high demand for bee products in the market, saying that farmers should take advantage of the situation and make fortunes from beekeeping.
“There are many bee products that are in high demand in the market currently. The supply is very low and this is an opportunity for our farmers to exploit so that they can earn a decent living,” she said.
She quipped that the programme is also aimed at providing alternative job opportunities to youths in the region and help save majority of youngsters from the jaws of alcoholism and drug abuse. She reiterated that her initiative is meant to empower and support families against alcoholism and substance abuse.
She at the same time revealed that the programme will soon be rolled out in other wards across the county noting that 300 farmers comprising of youths, women and men in every ward will benefit.
“Besides the training, we will assist the farmers with crucial equipment to boost their farming including protective gears. This is one of the empowerment programmes that we are undertaking together with other partners,” Kirika said.
Triza Oketch, an officer at the Ministry of Agriculture noted that bee keeping is a lucrative venture that is yet to be fully exploited adding that there’s numerous uses of bee products that can economically empower farmers.
Stephen Kimani, an apitherapist who was training the farmers said that they imparted requisite knowledge on the nine bee products, including honey, propolis, pollen, bee bread, venom or sting therapy and collection of beehive air to the farmers to help the reap high yields from their farming.
“We have also taught them on the use of pesticides in their farms because harmful pesticide residues and chemicals are the great enemies to beekeeping,” Kimani said.
Farmers led by Judy Nyokabi and Zacharia Muchiri hailed the training as a shot-in-the-arm noting that it will help them venture into beekeeping with an assurance of generating gokd returns and therefore improve their livelihoods.
Muchiri noted that the training ended their skepticism that bees are dangerous and should be avoided saying that they are now upbeat that they will rear them and eke proceeds from the practice.
“We are grateful for this training and the help that has been accorded to us. We are optimistic that we will thrive in the beekeeping business and improve our living standards,” Muchiri said.
Lazarus Kimani, a local youth leader, called on youths in the region to consider venturing into the lucrative beekeeping practice as an alternative for employment. He quipped that there are numerous opportunities in farming.
He warned that overreliance on white-collar jobs has continued to impoverish youths across the region and the country.
“There’s money in farming and we have been taught that beekeeping can make fortunes for us. I plead with my fellow youths to form groups and start this venture,” he said.
