Apiculture for Sustainable Land Use and Enhanced Community Livelihoods in Dryland Ecosystems: The Case of Makueni in Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Mutua, Caroline
Waswa, Fuchaka
Mcharo, Mwamburi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
EANSO
Abstract
The scarcity of water in drylands is a major cause of crop failure, food insecurity,
and consequent human ill-being. Relying on tilling and crop farming is therefore
a risky investment and a direct threat to sustainable livelihoods. This calls for a
shift in land use to practices that exert less pressure on land and water. Though
apiculture is such a land-use practice, its adoption in the context of changing
climate and increasing ecosystem vulnerability is still low. In pursuit of this
dimension, the objectives of this research were: (i) to determine the extent to which
apiculture is practised, (ii) to assess the challenges facing apiculture, and (iii) to
assess measures required to scale-up apiculture among resource-poor farmers
using Kathonzweni as a case study. Primary data was collected using a
questionnaire survey that targeted 379 farmers. Additional data was obtained from
secondary sources. Results showed that the majority of respondents (34.2%) relied
on crop and animal production as their main sources of income, while 25.8%
engaged in apiculture as an extra livelihood activity. Only 6.7% viewed apiculture
as a source of food. As such, tilling the land rather than purchasing food using
income from other sources remains the mindset in food security planning.
Individual farmers harvested an average of 83.53 kg of honey/year and sold on
average 60.67 kg/year. The income generated was an average of Kenyan Shillings
15,166.67 (USD 150) per year. Prolonged dry seasons, lack of community
sensitisation, high cost of beehives, poor apiculture husbandry practices and
difficulties in individually negotiating for better prices for their honey were the
main limiting factors undermining this land use. Farmers were however aware of
the huge market potential of hive products and the ecological suitability of the area
for apiculture. Correlation analysis of quantities harvested, sold and income
generated nationally revealed the existence of a very strong and significant positive
relationship (r = 0.92; p=0.000). Therefore, investing in apiculture can alleviate
household income limitations and the perennial food insecurity challenge in
drylands while maintaining natural land cover and hence environmental resilience.
Therefore, public-private synergistic partnerships based on a win-win business
model are needed for increased adoption of apiculture in the context of changing
climate.
Description
Article
Keywords
Apiculture, Land Use, Environmental Resilience, Livelihoods, Drylands
Citation
Mutua, C., Waswa, F., & Mcharo, M. (2023). Apiculture for Sustainable Land Use and Enhanced Community Livelihoods in Dryland Ecosystems: The Case of Makueni in Kenya. East African Journal of Environment and Natural Resources, 6(1), 198-216. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajenr.6.1.1313