Lodwar: Bee farmers in Turkana Central, Turkana South, and Loima have received a significant boost following a strategic collaboration between the County Government and the International Trade Centre (ITC) to support the development of the Turkana County Apiculture Value Chain Strategy. Speaking at a validation meeting in Lodwar, Peter Ikaru, the Chief Officer for Livestock Development and Fisheries, highlighted the growing interest in beekeeping within the county as a viable income source for farmers.
According to Kenya News Agency, the apiculture sub-sector is gaining momentum in high production areas such as Turkana West/Lokichoggio, Turkana South (Aroo), and Loima/Lokiriama, producing 80,881 kilograms of honey annually and benefiting over 5,200 households. Ikaru emphasized the potential of the sub-sector to evolve into a full-fledged alternative livelihood for pastoralists, further noting that safeguarding bees contributes to biodiversity protection and global crop production enhancement.
The value chain strategy is expected to improve the county’s economy and directly benefit households involved in beekeeping, along with artisans, traders, and other value chain actors. Ikaru urged partners to expand beekeeping development to other low-potential sub-counties, which would attract increased budgetary allocation for apiculture.
Supported by ITC with funding from KOICA, the meeting aimed to shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture through modernization of on-farm production and input markets, value addition, and job creation targeting the community. Josephine Emase, Deputy Director in charge of Apiculture, stated that hosting World Bee Day last year elevated Turkana among the top 10 counties with a well-established apiculture sector.
Emase further outlined the investment focus on increasing the production and productivity of beehives to bridge the supply gap of 938,793 kilograms, against Turkana’s annual demand of 1,019,674 kilograms. This demand-driven investment offers access to regional markets in Uganda, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
ITC representatives Julius Lokaale and Rao Pothuri expressed their commitment to developing the Turkana County Beekeeping Strategy in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and various honey value chain stakeholders. Halington Kakimon of World Vision Kenya (WVK) noted that the strategy, once complete, will enhance coordination and cohesion among sector players.
Kakimon mentioned that WVK is collaborating with groups in Nalapatui and Kesekiriet in Kakuma to promote beekeeping as a productive livelihood option. Marychris Okumu from ADRA emphasized the importance of a beekeeping value chain strategy to strengthen stakeholder coordination, improve resource management, and enhance farmers’ capacity.
Directors Erenius Nakadio and Richard Lokoyan commended the strategy’s development, describing it as a positive step forward.
