1.1 Importance of Bees 1. Bees are nature’s tiny farmers – they pollinate crops like mango, avocado, sunflower, beans, and vegetables. 2. Without bees, food production drops. Example: sunflower yields can increase by up to 50% with good pollination. 3. Products from bees: honey, wax, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, venom.

1.2 Common Bee Species in Kenya 1. Apis mellifera scutellata (African honeybee): aggressive but highly productive. 2. Differences from European bees: African bees abscond easily when disturbed, so hive management must be careful.

1.3 Why Beekeeping in Kenya? 1. Low investment (no need for land ownership – hives can hang on trees). 2. Little competition for resources. 3. Works well with other farming activities. 4. Kenya produces ~25,000 tons of honey yearly but still imports more – meaning the market is wide open! 💡 Example: A farmer in Kitui with 50 Langstroth hives can produce 500–700 kg honey annually, earning KES 200,000–350,000.

Which crops in your area could benefit from bees?

Which bee species is common in Kenya?