Business Daily (Nairobi)
Maureen Ongwae
13 November 2007
Nairobi — Farmers in western province are set to benefit from the establishment of a factory for honey and silk in Kakamega district, courtesy of the International Centre for Insects physiology and Ecology (ICIPE).
The factory which will be a market centre for both silk and bee products has been funded by the United Nations Development programme. It will be inaugurated in January next year.
A trainer for farmers at ICIPE Dr Suresh Raina said the factory was part of efforts to encourage farmers around Kakamega forest adopt modern technology in silk production and bee keeping. Products from the two activities are in high demand in the European Union.
He said that the farmers have already been trained on how to grow and maintain mulberry, a tree whose leaves are used to feed the silk warms and also equipped with the skills and technology on how to build and maintain modern bee hives without interfering with trees.
Dr Raina said that the farmers would bring their produce to the centre so that they can have a higher bidding power for their commodities while selling as a group.
"We are designing a central marketing centre where they could combine together their produce so as to fit into the commercial bracket," said Dr Raina.
At the same time the Kakamega district service coordinator, John Manyengo, said that the government in collaboration with ICIPE would assist farmers through extension services.
Mr Manyengo added that there are 442 groups actively involved in bee keeping in 16 groups from Kakamega district who have greatly benefited from the provision of modern beehives given by ICIPE.
Dr Raina said that similar projects are being carried out by ICIPE at Mumoni forest in Mwingi district and Aruboko Sokoke forest in coast province.
He said that the Mwingi project has recorded massive production of honey with 2,000 farmers actively involved in 51 groups.
He added that after the farmers prove that they can maintain continuous production they would be awarded certificates for organic production so that they can supply to the European Union.
Apart from Kenya, Dr Raina is coordinating similar programmes in other 15 countries in Africa.
The initiatives are aimed at adaptation of research and extension services to meet the needs of farmers for nutrition security and incomes, while conserving the environment.
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