09/04/2026
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEEKEEPING
Beekeeping is the science and art of rearing bees. It is important to keep bees for the production of honey,beeswax, propolis, pollen (bee bread), royal jelly and bee venom; for food, medicine and income.
Beekeeping
is also important for pollination and recreational activities.
Various reasons for keeping bees:-
1. *For cultural purposes*
Honey is used for beverage brewing and occasionally served at important cultural ceremonies such as weddings. It is also served to very important guests as sign of high regard. The Maji Maji rebellion used bees as a weapon to defend themselves against the colonialists.
Honey was used in Egypt as cosmetics and also for embalming the Egyptians dead pharaohs.
Honey was among the tithes and offertory given by the Jews to the Levites in their culture. In some African cultures honey is also used to pay dowry.
2. *As source of food*
Honey is delicious and nutritious It is an important food for many people in . It is consumed whole or mixed with other foods as supplement. Among the Langi and Acholi, honey is mixed with simsim and groundnut paste. Bee brood (larvae and pupae) have high nutritional value and are fed to malnourished children.
Royal jelly and pollen are consumed for their high protein value.
3. *As source of medicine*
Bee products such as bee venom, honey and propolis are used for treatment of many conditions following the antibiotic nature of the products. The conditions/diseases treated using bee products include stomach
upsets, diarrhea, vomiting, wounds, burns, cough, measles, false teeth, toothaches and fungal infections.
It also helps to boost the immunity of people living with HIV/AIDS.
4. *For income generation*
The Bee products are marketed locally or abroad to get money, with or without value addition.
Beekeeping industry also provides incomes to various stakeholders in the value chain. These include bee farmers, artisans, pharmaceutical industry, food, beverage industry, honey dealers among others.
5. *Pollination*
The bees provide pollination services, thereby playing a vital role in food production and overall agricultural productivity. Over 75% of all the crops in sub Saharan Africa benefit from pollination. Bees are
considered the most efficient pollinators because they have hairy bodies which easily pick up pollen grains
as they move about in flowers. During a single day one bee may visit several hundred flowers
Modern bee keeping .
A kilo of honey in Kenya fetches around 600ksh to 1500ksh. A farmer with approximately 20 beehives can earn a comfortable 480,000ksh per year. 20 beehives times an annual production of 40kg of honey per beehive.with proper management, taking bee keeping to another level calls you have PASSION,PURPOSE AND LOVE for bees,
Jungle honey is an expert in bee keeping and works with farmers to actualize the dream in commercializing bee industry,to start your journey contact jungle honey Ltd today and enjoy good harvests
0715678751 / 0795828414
Junglehoney27@gmail.com,visit our . Or follow on Facebook,