Amagoro Integrated Development (AMID) Community-Based Organisation (CBO) has recruited over 60 farmers to venture into modern beekeeping and sunflower growing in the Teso region to be funded by Farnbid Africa.
AMID Organizing Secretary Robert Murega said Farnbid Africa will donate fodder/forage for bees and apiculture, but only to registered members, challenging those interested to seize an early opportunity and register at a fee of Sh1000.
He said the projected profit of Sh100,000 was from *5LSH (Langstroth Hives), adding that 1kg goes for Sh1,000 while 500 gms goes for Sh500.
Murega noted that the CBO started with four founding members, including Katakwa Diocese Bishop Emeritus Dr. Zakayos Epus (current patron), Murega (the Organizing Secretary), Samson Enarach (Secretary), and Ambrose Ong’ura (vice chairman).
Members of the CBO in attendance included cluster chairmen Fobian Isogol (Kamolo area), Charles Obali (Chakol B), and Lawrence Omanyala (Amagoro A). Other clusters are Aboloi, under Alloys Emeje as chairman.
To confirm the importance of AMID CBO, Murega noted that AMID received a boost with Eng’s appointment. Christopher Okwii and the First Deputy Prime Minister of Emormor Kingdom.
Farmers in the Amagoro area will be offered capacity building by Farm Bees Africa on using Langstroth beehives to extract honey and value chain from honey and sunflower.
Amagoro Integrated CBO field officer Daniel Okapesi told members during a sensitization meeting at Amagoro Junior School that the main objective of the training next month is to teach members on value addition.
“We need to empower the community, especially from Teso North, to venture into modern beekeeping and the production of sunflowers, which is good fodder for Langstroth beehives, entailing the creation of an apiary or making rails where the hives are placed.
Other necessities include water and shrubs with no disturbance. Harvests are realized four times a year.
AMID chairman Mr. Samuel Etyang said AMID is targeting 500 members, noting that beekeeping is a very vital venture that is cheap, with four harvests per year with a clean profit of about Sh100,000.
The CBO’s chairman, Samuel Etyang, said the CBO grew to an impressive 18 members before shooting up to 60 currently, which is impressive, but having more members will be a boon to the CBO.
Mr. Ikapes later escorted the visiting team on a tour to inspect Langstroth beehives at Kong’or village, the residence of AMID CBO patron and the second Anglican Church of Kenya Katakwa Diocese Bishop Rev. Dr. Zakayos Epuus, flanked by his wife, Madam Catherine Epuus.
In his welcoming remarks, Bishop Emeritus Epuus said he started with three beehives, which have since increased to 33, promising to increase the number to at least 100.
“Beekeeping is a profitable venture, noting that in his current earnings, he harvested 50 kilograms and 20 grams of honey, which goes for Sh1000 and Sh500, respectively,” he said.
Those in attendance included Justice (retired) Mathews Emukule, former Councilor Fobian Isogol, and retired Chief Pasiliano Ikoito, among others.
By Absalom Namwalo
