Igati Community One Million Beehives Project Overview

The Igati Community > Igati Community One Million Beehives Project Overview

One Million Bee Hive Project

Project Title: Igati Community One Million Bee Hive Project

Initiating Organization: Igati Creative and Innovators NGO – A Social Entrepreneurship Movement

Launch Date: August 19, 2024

Launch Event Highlights:

The project was officially launched by reggae icon Pato Banton and Antoinette Rootsdaughter. Pato Banton’s legacy, rooted in impactful community initiatives worldwide, was brought to Meru County, giving a strong endorsement to this community-driven project and emphasizing its potential for transformative socioeconomic change.

Pato Banton Day In Our Community

Project Partners

1. Project Background & Justification

The One Million Bee Hive Project is a transformative initiative by Igati Creative and Innovators NGO aimed at revolutionizing bee farming in rural areas like Meru County. The project leverages hands-on experience to create a globally presentable model that can be showcased in international forums as a sustainable and scalable apiculture initiative.

This initiative envisions impacting over 500,000 people by providing knowledge and benefits of beekeeping, empowering 100,000+ households with income-generating opportunities from honey and its by-products. The project will contribute to:

  • Improving food security through enhanced pollination.
  • Environmental conservation by encouraging tree planting around community apiaries.
  • Advancing apiculture innovation in rural communities.
  • Generating foreign exchange through honey and by-product exports.
  • Boosting government revenue through taxation and exports.
  • Enhancing the socio-economic status of community members.
  • Reducing human-wildlife conflicts by establishing communal apiaries around forests.
  • Demonstrating the power of collective action in fostering love, community work, and social entrepreneurship.

2. Project Goals & Objectives

Goals

  • Establish one million bee hives across Meru County and expand to Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu, and Marsabit.
  • Position Meru County as a national and regional leader in honey production, value addition, and apiculture innovation.

Objectives

1. Train and empower 500,000+ community members on the importance and practice of beekeeping.

2. Provide income-generating opportunities to 100,000+ households through honey production and by-products sales.

3. Develop communal apiaries in government-gazetted zones to maximize production and ensure sustainability.

4. Train youths, polytechnic students, and artisans in apiculture innovation and continuous improvement.

5. Advocate for community-driven ownership through self-help groups and cooperative societies for value addition, branding, and marketing.

6. Ensure sustainability by allowing individuals and groups to either manage their own bee inspection services or sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Igati Creative and Innovators NGO for full apiary management services. The NGO will retain 10% of hive production to facilitate services such as:

  • Hive colonization
  • Inspections & honey harvesting
  • Value addition, branding, and marketing
  • Sales and distribution support

3. Implementation Strategy

  • Phase 1 (Year 1-2): Pilot with 100,000 beehives, farmer training, and community engagement.
  • Phase 2 (Year 3-5): Expand to 500,000 beehives, establish cooperatives, and build processing plants.
  • Phase 3 (Year 6-7): Full-scale deployment to one million beehives, international market penetration, and research partnerships.

4. Stakeholders & Partnerships

The project will engage multiple stakeholders to ensure its success:

  • Igati Creative and Innovators NGO (project oversight & coordination).
  • Igati Mission CBOs (grassroots mobilization).
  • Self-help groups & cooperatives (local management & marketing).
  • National Government of Kenya & County Governments (Meru County & others for policy support).
  • Higher learning & technical institutions (training & research support).
  • Other NGOs & corporate partners (funding & technical assistance).
  • International development agencies & philanthropists (financial & strategic partnerships).
  • Local and international markets (targeting large-scale honey and by-product sales).

5. Budget & Financial Plan

Estimated Total Budget: Kshs 3 Billion over 7 years.

Breakdown:

  • Training & Capacity Building: Kshs 500 Million
  • Hive Construction & Distribution: Kshs 1.5 Billion
  • Honey Processing & Value Addition: Kshs 600 Million
  • Marketing & Distribution: Kshs 200 Million
  • Environmental Conservation & Community Initiatives: Kshs 200 Million

6. Expected Outcomes & Impact

  • Economic Growth: Creation of 100,000+ jobs in beekeeping, processing, and marketing.
  • Environmental Sustainability: Increased pollination for crops, afforestation, and conservation.
  • Food Security: Enhanced agricultural productivity through pollination.
  • Community Empowerment: Sustainable incomes for rural farmers and youth.
  • National & Global Recognition: Positioning Kenya as a leading honey producer.
  • Reduction of Human-Wildlife Conflicts: By placing communal apiaries near forests.
  • Stronger Social Bonds: Encouraging community-driven economic models.

7. Monitoring & Evaluation

  • Establish performance indicators (e.g., number of hives deployed, honey yield, farmer incomes).
  • Conduct quarterly evaluations and adapt strategies accordingly.
  • Use digital tracking systems for hive monitoring and honey production data.
  • Regular documentaries & updates will be shared globally to showcase progress and impact.

8. Challenges & Risk Mitigation

  • Climate change effects → Introduce climate-smart beekeeping techniques.
  • Resistance to adoption → Implement extensive community engagement programs.
  • Market fluctuations → Establish cooperatives and secure international buyers.
  • Pests & diseases → Train farmers on bee health management.
  • Access to finance for farmers → Partner with microfinance institutions for beekeeping loans.

9. Sustainability Plan

  • Revenue reinvestment from honey and value-added products.
  • Formation of regional bee cooperatives for long-term management.
  • Integration with government policies on agribusiness and environmental conservation.
  • Expansion into eco-tourism and research partnerships.
  • Community-driven ownership: Each participant must own at least two modern bee hives and be a member of a self-help group or cooperative.
  • Communal Apiaries: Managed by the NGO and supporting stakeholders to accommodate households, bee enthusiasts, and those without suitable land.

One Million Bee Hive Project – Two-Year Work Plan (January 2025 – December 2026)

Overview

This work plan outlines the activities for the first two years of the One Million Bee Hive Project by Igati Creative and Innovators NGO, following its official launch by Pato Banton on August 19, 2024. The project aims to revolutionize bee farming in rural areas, particularly in Meru County and neighboring counties, by training communities, establishing communal apiaries, and ensuring value addition for economic sustainability.

Year 1: January 2025 – December 2025

Phase 1: Project Foundation & Awareness (January – June 2025)

  • Objective: Build awareness, train communities, and establish initial communal apiaries.
  • January 2025: Develop training materials and curriculum for beekeeping workshops. Conduct a stakeholder engagement meeting with county and national government representatives, NGOs, corporates, and community leaders. Identify and register project participants (target: 10,000 beekeepers in the first year).
  • February 2025: Launch a community sensitization campaign across Meru, Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu, and Marsabit counties. Begin constructing communal apiaries in designated areas, prioritizing regions near forests to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
  • March 2025: Conduct the first round of beekeeping training workshops. Initiate a hive production and distribution program in partnership with local artisans and polytechnics.
  • April 2025: Implement a hive colonization support program. Conduct a mid-phase assessment to measure initial impact and engagement.
  • May 2025: Strengthen cooperative societies and self-help groups for value addition and marketing. Train cooperative leaders on branding, marketing, and business management.
  • June 2025: Host a Beekeeping Expo showcasing progress and attracting potential investors and partners. Begin harvesting honey from early adopters and communal apiaries.

 

Phase 2: Scaling Up & Establishing Value Chains (July – December 2025)

Objective: Expand beekeeping operations, enhance honey processing, and establish export channels.

  • July 2025: Expand hive distribution to reach 50,000 hives in operation. Establish a value addition and processing center for honey and bee products.
  • August 2025: Conduct refresher training for beekeepers on harvesting techniques and hive management. Initiate environmental conservation programs (tree planting around communal apiaries).
  • September 2025: Launch marketing and branding initiatives for locally produced honey and bee products. Begin developing partnerships with international honey buyers for exports.
  • October 2025: Conduct research and innovation workshops to improve hive designs and beekeeping techniques.
  • Establish linkages with higher learning institutions and technical colleges.
  • November 2025: Train additional 20,000 beekeepers to join the project. Set up honey collection points in all participating counties.
  • December 2025: Review progress and make necessary adjustments for the second year. Publish a documentary showcasing the project’s first-year achievements.

Year 2: January 2026 – December 2026

Phase 3: Expansion & Economic Growth (January – June 2026)

Objective: Strengthen cooperative structures, increase honey production, and scale up processing capacity.

  • January 2026: Expand training to additional regions. Strengthen policy advocacy for communal apiaries in government-gazetted areas.
  • February 2026: Conduct the first large-scale honey harvesting and processing cycle. Increase brand visibility through national and international exhibitions.
  • March 2026: Launch online sales and distribution channels for honey and bee products. Engage with the government for tax incentives and export policies.
  • April 2026: Establish a second value addition center to cater to increasing production. Scale up environmental conservation efforts with a tree-planting drive.
  • May 2026: Expand partnerships with corporates and philanthropic organizations. Train cooperatives on advanced beekeeping techniques and product diversification.
  • June 2026: Hold a national honey symposium bringing together stakeholders in the industry.

Phase 4: Sustainability & Global Reach (July – December 2026)

Objective: Achieve financial sustainability and position the project as a global model for rural apiculture.

  • July 2026: Increase hive numbers to 200,000 with enhanced production capacity. Strengthen cooperative governance for long-term sustainability.
  • August 2026: Initiate export agreements with international honey markets. Enhance research on beekeeping innovations in partnership with universities.
  • September 2026: Document case studies on the impact of beekeeping on rural livelihoods. Launch a community savings and credit cooperative society (SACCO) for beekeepers.
  • October 2026: Expand communal apiaries to new counties. Organize study tours for other communities interested in replicating the model.
  • November 2026: Establish a honey museum and learning center in Meru County. Strengthen local and international advocacy for sustainable beekeeping.
  • December 2026: Publish the second-year impact report and host a global summit on community-driven beekeeping models.
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The One Million Beehive Project In Pictorials