This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
On the outskirts of Solongo village in Vihiga County, a quiet revolution is underway. Margaret Sabwa, a diabetic farmer, has dared to be different by embracing beekeeping as a means to manage her condition. With a passion for honey, she has invested in 250 beehives, producing high-quality honey that is in high demand.
Her journey began in 2011, when she started with just two traditional beehives. With a capital of Sh100,000 from her savings, Margaret invested in beekeeping, purchasing 30 Kenya Top Bar hives at Sh2,500 each. She has since mastered the skills of keeping bees, reading online platforms and learning from colleagues.
‘I like honey, mainly because I am diabetic and use it to sweeten my tea. It is part of the reason I went into beekeeping,' says Sabwa. With favourable climatic conditions and the natural forest environment in her homestead, beekeeping has become a stress-free venture for her.
Over the years, Margaret has harvested honey three times a year, with each beehive producing 10 to 12kg of honey. She has teamed up with her two siblings and three friends from the neighbourhood in the business, marketing their honey through social media platforms.
The demand for honey has been on the rise, with people switching to natural products. Margaret is now pushing for villagers to embrace beekeeping as a source of income, besides tea farming. ‘We are working on a partnership with a certain NGO to provide women and youth with hives that are affordable and easy to maintain. I believe this system will eliminate poverty in our society,' she says.
With the support of the county government of Vihiga, Margaret and her partners were provided with a honey-processing machine worth Sh150,000 last month. In the next five years, the team plans to recruit more farmers into the business, forming a cooperative society to produce huge volumes of honey.
According to Maseno University's Department of Agriculture Head Matthew Dida, farmers who want to venture into beekeeping should consider the location. ‘The place must have adequate flowers to provide the bees with nectar and pollen. There should also be a source of water for the insects,' he advises.
