Bizna Kenya Group held an agricultural forum on apiculture (bee keeping) on 6th June 2017 at the Nairobi’s Memorial Park. The guest Speakers were Tonnie Mello, CEO and Founder of Bizna Kenya and Christopher Nzuki from the Hive Limited.
Bee Farming in Kenya has drastically increased over the past few years as a result of the introduction of modern technology hives that have improved the yield and quality of honey and other bee products.
According to Mr. Christopher Nzuki, there are 7 honey products which can be easily extracted and sold both to local and global markets at a good amount of money:
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Honey
This is the most important of honey products. Good honey can stay for more than 200 years without going bad, this is because honey has a natural preservative.
The Most modern beehive adapted specifically for the aggressive African bee to maximize the most out of this special bee in its natural state is sold by the Hive Group at 10,000ksh.
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Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion that is used in the nutrition of larvae, as well as adult queens. It is responsible for the long life span of queen bees of up to 5 years compared to the normal lifespan of about 48 days of other bees. It is collected and provided as a dietary supplement for humans, claiming various health benefits because of components such as B-complex vitamins. It is also used as a fertility improvement component and for skin care and natural beauty products because it is known for delaying aging.
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Propolis
Propolis or bee glue is a resinous mixture that honey bees collect from tree buds, sap flows, or other botanical sources. It is used as a sealant for unwanted open spaces in the hive. Propolis is used for small gaps (approximately 6 millimeters (0.24 in) or less), while larger spaces are usually filled with beeswax. Its color varies depending on its botanical source, the most common being dark brown. Propolis is sticky at and above room temperature, 20 °C (68 °F). At lower temperatures, it becomes hard and very brittle…
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Comb Honey
Comb honey delivers the benefits of honey at its most natural form. The Hive Limited produces this product from their special comb honey suppliers.
Natural Honey has different color and taste depending on the type of local vegetation where bees forage and provide a unique mapping system of Africa’s traditional melifferous plants and their natural sweetness.
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Pollen
While honey is actually the carbohydrates/starch for bees basically energy giving meal for them, pollen is the source of Protein, rare minerals, vitamins, flower oil and some enzymes. To this pollen: You take it with warm water and a spoon of honey in the morning before breakfast to pass it through the gut. It’s known to contain medicinal properties that have impact on cancer control. It’s a mistake and a great mistake for people to think or imagine that bees eat only honey. Bees normally mix honey and pollen to make their well-balanced diet of their daily food called “bee bread” and that’s what they eat.
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Wax
Wax is a byproduct of honey production. It is extracted from honey combs and wax cappings. It’s used to make soap, candles, cosmetics and foundation wax sheets.
The Hive Limited is a company with the presence in 16 African countries, Kenya included. The company sells the Hive Beekeepers Starter Kit which comprises; 10 cab hives, Beeswax, The hive brand smoker, Uncapping fork, Double strainer/sieve, Hand gloves, The hive tool, Bee brush, Bee keepers protective suit, Honey extractor and Practical training. The full starter kit costs 175,000ksh.
The3 Hive Limited also purchases all honey and other bee products from all its clients.
Bee keeping business is a lucrative venture since from only 10 hives, one can earning a profit of 240,000ksh from each harvest. In addition, one comb is usually sold at 300 Ksh.
For more information contact : the Hive Limited