The Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) says there are only 2 Million bee hives in Kenya despite the country being home to millions of farmers.

The few farmers in beekeeping, however, focus on honey production, leaving the potential in other bee products like bee venom untapped, mainly due to a lack of knowledge.

Often referred to as apitoxin, Bee Venom is a powerful substance of honeybees. It is the most valuable bee product than a kilo of royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen, which retails at Sh42,000, Sh2,000, and Sh8,500, respectively.

Although it’s known for its role in defensive mechanisms, this venom holds untapped potential beyond the hive.

Bee Venom is in high demand worldwide for its medical and therapeutic applications, including pain relief, skin care, and immune system stimulation.

However, despite Kenya’s rich biodiversity and favourable climate for beekeeping, a significant portion of the bee venom available in the market is imported, making it an expensive and rare product.

Pauline Otila: Farmer Making Sweet Cash From Beehives

As the market for Bee Venom continues to grow, the potential profits are striking. For instance, a gram of bee venom goes for around Sh30,000 in the world market.

This premium valuation reflects the rarity potential of bee venom, creating a lucrative venture for farmers to explore.

The Bee Venom farming process involves placing special collectors at the hive entrance, stimulating bees to release venom without causing harm.

This process can be integrated seamlessly into existing honeybee farming practices, enhancing the overall value of beekeeping ventures.

For farmers with idle land or limited resources, bee venom farming offers an economically viable option that requires minimal investment while maximizing returns.

By collaborating with experts like Savannah Honey, adopting modern techniques, and integrating sustainable practices. Kenyan farmers can not only meet local demand but also position themselves as exporters of this precious resource.

According to Savannah Honey, a Kenyan company involved in beekeeping and sales of bee-keeping equipment within East Africa, it takes about 45 minutes to extract one or two grams of venom.

Each bee contains only a few milligrams of venom. At least 3 colonies of bees are enough to extract one gram of venom. Each colony comprises hundreds of bees, including a single queen, hundreds of male bees, and 20,000 to 60,000 worker bees.

Composition of Bee Venom in Kenya

Bee Venom is like a secret recipe crafted by bees. It’s a mix of special things that work together in amazing ways.

Melittin: This is like the boss of the venom. It helps with pain and swelling when you get stung by a bee. It’s also good for calming down inflammation.
Apamin: This one talks to your brain and helps with things like making you feel better and less anxious.
Mast Cell Degranulating Peptide: This fancy name means it tells your body to release stuff like histamine, which can make you itch or feel funny after a sting.
Phospholipase A2: Think of this as a superhero that breaks down walls. It helps the venom spread in your body and gets your immune system ready to fight.
Hyaluronidase: This helper makes sure the venom goes where it needs to by breaking down stuff that gets in the way.
Adolapin: This one is like a painkiller. It helps you feel better if you’re hurt.
Histamine and Dopamine: These are like little messengers that tell your body how to feel. They can make you feel itchy or sore after a sting.
Uses Of Bee Venom
Anti-inflammatory: Bee Venom can reduce inflammation by suppressing the production of inflammatory molecules. This makes it a potential treatment for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and chronic pain.
Analgesic: Bee Venom can also relieve pain by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain. This makes it a potential treatment for chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and migraine headaches.
Immunomodulatory: Bee Venom can modulate the immune system, making it a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis.
Neural protective: Bee Venom can protect nerve cells from damage, making it a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Anticancer: Bee Venom has been shown to have anticancer properties in some studies, but more research is needed to confirm this effect.
Wound healing: Bee Venom can promote wound healing by stimulating the production of new blood vessels and collagen.

How to start Bee Venom farming or business in Kenya

Bee Venom farming is one of the most profitable farming businesses, although it is a highly profitable but difficult business.

Savannah Honey has been contracting farmers to undertake Bee Venom farming in 6 Countries in Africa for the last 7 years.

The firm is currently the only producer of Bee Venom honey in Kenya. They offer free installation, free technical support to beekeepers for collecting the venom from the bees at affordable rates, and a market for the bee venom at Sh4,000 per gram.

Savannah Honey will work with you through a 5 years contract to ensure that you succeed in bee farming.

Savannah Honey contacts – 0724052975, email; [email protected]