Step by Step Guide on How to Start Bees Keeping Business in Kenya

Bees? Oh yes. I am pretty sure this is a term most of us have heard of in the last couple of weeks. And yes, I am here to bring bees back to us, but this time, to show us the importance of bees and how one can make money from bees. Follow suit as we all learn how to make money from these insects.

Bees are the most interesting insects to keep. Apart from honey, they give other products like wax, propolis and royal jelly, besides pollinating crops. Beekeeping is a fantastic way to keep earning and at the same time seek some extra money elsewhere as the insects are easier to maintain.

Beekeeping is an advantageous venture, because you do not need a large parcel of land. The venture requires a small piece of land that does not have to be fertile. The capital required to start is actually low compared to other farm enterprises. Now, good thing is that it only requires minimal labor that only comes in when harvesting and during inspection.

What you need to start off include: the bees themselves of course. And this is where you will need bee-human relationship. It is important to understand that bee stings are an integral part of beekeeping and a bee keeper has to deal with such. There is also a set of hive tools needed, gumboots and gloves of course.

You can actually construct a beehive using locally available materials to cut on costs.  Holding racks and poles are also very vital. Typically, one bee hive provides enough bees to pollinate one acre. You can start by applying the juice of fruits like pineapples, mangoes or oranges. This kind of juice attracts bees to your hive and they eventually colonize.  Bees love wild flowers, berries, flowering herbs and a variety of flowering fruits and vegetables.

A fertilized queen moves from one cell to another laying eggs. The warmth generated by a cluster of worker bees enable eggs to hatch after three days. A bee suit is also a must-have. This should include the head veil to offer maximum protection from bee stings.

The place to keep the bees should be well-drained and far from noise. Avoid fields frequently sprayed with chemical pesticides to reduce bee poisoning and honey contamination, so if it is a must, use bee friendly pesticides.

Place all your hives at a height that will be comfortable for you to work from. If you decide to place them on wooden stands and wire suspensions, paint the stands and wires using oil to drive away crawling ants. If resources allow you, paint your beehive to protect it from vandals and predators like honey badgers, monkeys and humans.

Bees produce honey which is used to apply on bread, used as an alternative for sugar and can also be used to clean wounds.

Wax is another product from bees and it has a couple of functions. It is used to manufacture creams, ointments, candles, shoes and floor polish. It is also used in dentistry, to make tooth impressions for filling and replacement.  In laboratories as well, it is used in the dissection of small insects. In pharmaceuticals, it is used to make pill coatings. You can sell this wax to make an income.

A kilo of honey, normally sells at around Ksh. 150. You can sell say like 32 kilos and make Ksh. 3300, from honey alone. You can also sell honey combs.

When you find a good market, you can always export. And this in return, gives you better profits.

Harvesting is usually done between 10 to 12 months after setup. The second harvest takes place eight months later. Afterwards, harvesting can be carried out every four months.

When handling bees, it is important to remember, that the bees should not be frightened as doing so makes them wild and sting. Beehives should also not be operated from the front. Movement towards the hives should be made quietly as this may alert the bees.

If stung, a bee sting should not be rubbed. A sharp nail or razor blade should be used to scrap it off. Pressing causes the poison of the sting to release more poison.

Good luck as you go into this venture. It is a wonderful experience.