-Tangus has mainly the Langstroth beehives
though there are a few Kenya Top Bar Hives as well. He also has one or two traditional hives in the apiary.
-Tangus made his first hive about 20 years ago and
placed them on the boundary of his one-acre farm.
placed them on the boundary of his one-acre farm.
-To make the candles, he heats the wax, inserts a wick into a 10-inch plastic pipe and hold it in the centre of the pipe.
 |
| Tangus's apiary |
The road leading to Peter Tangus’s home in
Kimawit village, Bomet County, is lined with
trees. It looks like a forest path.
Kimawit village, Bomet County, is lined with
trees. It looks like a forest path.
A 12-feet high fence made of offcut timber
separates his house from a small forest of
trees, avocados and bananas.
separates his house from a small forest of
trees, avocados and bananas.
From his compound, the unmistakable buzz
of bees that Tangus rears just a few metres
from his house can be heard.
of bees that Tangus rears just a few metres
from his house can be heard.
“I have 40 hives here and all of them are
inhabited,” Tangus says as he leads the way
into the apiary.
inhabited,” Tangus says as he leads the way
into the apiary.
The hives are suspended on posts that stand
about five-feet high using strong wires.
Tangus has mainly the Langstroth beehives
though there are a few Kenya Top Bar Hives
as well. He also has one or two traditional
hives in the apiary.
about five-feet high using strong wires.
Tangus has mainly the Langstroth beehives
though there are a few Kenya Top Bar Hives
as well. He also has one or two traditional
hives in the apiary.
“I am turning my bee project into a
demonstration farm; the reason I have
different types of hives because various
farmers come here.”
demonstration farm; the reason I have
different types of hives because various
farmers come here.”
Tangus knows the exact dates that he set the
hives and even when bees moved into them.
hives and even when bees moved into them.
“Hanging hives helps in controlling pests and
predators from attacking the bees. I have
applied oil on the posts and grease to repel
ants that can drive away bees,” says the 52-
year-old.
predators from attacking the bees. I have
applied oil on the posts and grease to repel
ants that can drive away bees,” says the 52-
year-old.
He started the business with
Sh3,000 to buy timber, nails and paint.
Tangus made his first hive about 20 years ago
and placed them on the boundary of his one-
acre farm.
Sh3,000 to buy timber, nails and paint.
Tangus made his first hive about 20 years ago
and placed them on the boundary of his one-
acre farm.
However, what had started as a promising
project became a source of anguish for him as
his bees attacked his neighbours and their
animals.
project became a source of anguish for him as
his bees attacked his neighbours and their
animals.
They asked the chief to compel him to stop.
Having tasted the cash from the bees (he was
getting up to Sh10,000 a season then), the
former Ministry of Public Works driver
refused to comply.
Having tasted the cash from the bees (he was
getting up to Sh10,000 a season then), the
former Ministry of Public Works driver
refused to comply.
“I sought advice from Baraka Agricultural
College in Molo sometime in 2005 who trained
him for two-weeks.
College in Molo sometime in 2005 who trained
him for two-weeks.
“I learnt so many things, including making
modern hives, harvesting, processing, sorting,
extracting by-products from honey and most
importantly, co-existing with bees,” he says.
modern hives, harvesting, processing, sorting,
extracting by-products from honey and most
importantly, co-existing with bees,” he says.
He fenced-off his farm using offcuts, planted
more trees and transferred the hives there
effectively ending the conflict with
neighbours.
more trees and transferred the hives there
effectively ending the conflict with
neighbours.
He then made 10 more
Langstroth hives to add to his 15 traditional
ones.
Langstroth hives to add to his 15 traditional
ones.
“During harvesting, the brooder is not
disturbed, thus, the bees continue living in
the hive as usual,” says Tangus.
disturbed, thus, the bees continue living in
the hive as usual,” says Tangus.
From the apiary, the farmer gets more than
Sh250,000 after every four months from the
sale of honey that he packs in 50g-bottles sold
at Sh50 each, and 1kg tins that he sells at
Sh800 to residents. He has named the
products Kipyetge Pure Honey.
Sh250,000 after every four months from the
sale of honey that he packs in 50g-bottles sold
at Sh50 each, and 1kg tins that he sells at
Sh800 to residents. He has named the
products Kipyetge Pure Honey.
More cash comes from a number of by-
products that include wax, candles, skin
ointment and shoe polish. A kilo of wax goes
for the same amount as honey.
products that include wax, candles, skin
ointment and shoe polish. A kilo of wax goes
for the same amount as honey.
To make the candles, he heats the wax,
inserts a wick into a 10-inch plastic pipe and
hold it in the centre of the pipe.
inserts a wick into a 10-inch plastic pipe and
hold it in the centre of the pipe.
He then pours the liquid wax into the pipe and allows
it to cool then removes the candles that he
sells to churches and homes.
it to cool then removes the candles that he
sells to churches and homes.
The skin ointment is a mix of pure wax and
sunflower oil plus some herbal extracts. It is
used in treating wounds and fungal skin
diseases.
sunflower oil plus some herbal extracts. It is
used in treating wounds and fungal skin
diseases.
Tangus runs a workshop near his home. He
recently made over 2,000 Langstroth hives
which he sold to farmers’ groups at Sh5,000
each.
recently made over 2,000 Langstroth hives
which he sold to farmers’ groups at Sh5,000
each.
“Currently, I am working on 600 hives for a
church,” says Tangus, who employs at least
five artisans at the workshop and helps
farmers set up the hives after buying from
him.
church,” says Tangus, who employs at least
five artisans at the workshop and helps
farmers set up the hives after buying from
him.
Felix Opinya, a researcher at Egerton
University, says high fences around the
apiary are a smart security measure.
University, says high fences around the
apiary are a smart security measure.
“The fence prevents bees from attacking
people and livestock because bees will only
attack when provoked and the fence will act
as a barrier,” Opinya says.
people and livestock because bees will only
attack when provoked and the fence will act
as a barrier,” Opinya says.
Joseph Cheruiyot Bett, a Livestock Production
officer in Sotik sub-county, says the fortune in
bee keeping lies in value addition of products.
“Value addition of beeswax alone can earn
the farmer five times the value of honey but
this requires special skills and equipment.”
the farmer five times the value of honey but
this requires special skills and equipment.”
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