KENYA – Honey Production groups in the Selenkay Conservancy

This Project will involve the Maasai communities around the Selenkay Conservancy, which lies in part of the Amboseli eco-system in Kenya. Our partner in this venture has for many years leased community land in the area on which to develop eco-tourism by, amongst other activities, the development of community projects to alleviate poverty, empower and provide alternative income for communities around the Conservancy.

Our funding will support the establishment of two groups, each of ten women or youths, with each group establishing a honey producing project. Each group will acquire 10 beehives, along with metal stands for the hives, and two suits to be worn when harvesting the honey thus produced. They will then be trained on modern bee-keeping methods. This will allow each group to jump-start their group project and result in their being able to harvest and sell their products, the profits being shared amongst members of the group. Each group will be funded to set up 10 beehives, positioned on metal stands to minimise infestation by termites and ants. They will then fence-in the area where the stands are located to reduce honey-badger attacks and monitor their site to keep the vegetation short. Once they have harvested their honey they will process and package it for sale, the resultant profits being shared amongst members of the group and their community.

There are two benefits to this honey production. It provides an alternative source of income to both Maasai women who must support their families and youth who would otherwise be unemployed, but also it helps to maintain the culture of their community, as in Maasai culture, honey is used for blessing ceremonies and for making local brew.

The setting up of these groups helps to develop alternative adaptive land use to help against climate change whilst also supporting each group who are affected by Covid-19 and drought.

The honey production of each of the two groups will benefit the ten members of their group, meaning a benefit therefore to some 100 families. In total, therefore, our funding will reach some 200 families in the Selankay Conservancy, helping to change their lives.