TECHNOLOGIES AND EQUIPMENT IN HONEY PRODUCTION - PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN KENYA

Transcription

1 TECHNOLOGIES AND EQUIPMENT IN HONEY PRODUCTION - PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN KENYA ASIKO G.A. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, P.O. Box NAIROBI, Kenya. Tel /01, Fax /721007, ilri-ma@africaonline.co.ke Abstract The crucial role played by the Private Sector in shared investment ventures has become increasingly apparent. The Sector=s enormous capability of resource mobilization is demonstrated at individual, group (targeting women groups and bee keeping co-operatives) and partnership levels (involving joint ventures). It is evident that Public Investments in bee keeping have, in most cases grounded due to diminishing resources (budget allocations an manpower), to sustain and maintain the high operational costs of services and goods. The potential advantage of the Private Sector is further revealed in relative flexibility to customer needs, with regard to packaging of services and goods, including value addition. There is evidence of information flow and stakeholder participation in decision-making at all levels. The Private Sector has links with Co-ordinating Public bodies, hence the perceived effectiveness and efficiency. The links however need to be strengthened in legal and policy frameworks at institutional levels, for optimal results, taking into consideration the social economic and environmental impact. The Beekeeping Division has made strides in the promotion of Private Sector participation in bee equipment manufacture (hives and honey processing equipment), training, technology development and transfer (research/innovations), and marketing of hive products, with the back up of Public trainers. Such Private partners with an impact on beekeeping industry include: The Kenya Beekeepers= Association, Church communities, various development partners, Local initiatives, Youth Polytechnics, Institutions of learning and research, Young farmers= Clubs, Women groups/co-operatives, Individual entrepreneurs, and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs). Various strategies, especially those with a multiplier effect, have been employed in training and innovations. Over the years, there has been a remarkable transformation of beekeeping utilities (equipment workshops and honey processing units) from Public to Private, through loose agreements that need to be strengthened legally. Introduction Beekeeping is increasingly becoming of immense importance in household food security, Agroprocessing for rural enterprises, appraisal of natural products in ethno-medicine, environmental conservation of bio-diversity and an income earner through sale of honey and beeswax. All these are of priority ranking on the Kenya Government Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, It is worthy noting that for impoverished populations, survival takes precedence over altruistic concerns for the environmental capacity of a destination, or increases in costs for the sake of sustainability, (Victor and Rebecca, 1998) Proceedings of the 37 th International Apicultural Congress, 28 October 1 November 2001, Durban, South Africa APIMONDIA 2001 To be referenced as: Proc. 37 th Int. Apic. Congr., 28 Oct 1 Nov 2001, Durban, South Africa ISBN: Produced by: Document Transformation Technologies Organised by: Conference Planners

2 Bee keeping was initially a public venture. However, in the recent past, there has been a growing interest for participation by other stakeholders. These include the umbrella body, (Kenya Beekeepers= Association), The Church Community, (Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, African inland, and World Vision, among others), various Development partners, local initiatives operating in specific areas, youth polytechnics, institutions of learning and research, young farmers= clubs, women groups/co-operatives, individual entrepreneurs, as well as non-governmental organizations, (NGO=s). The private sector invariably has the best information about demand and the most powerful of the management techniques for persuasive influence, though, with partnerships at all levels, public experts still play a major role in training and extension, including innovations, despite limited resources to undertake the same. The latter could be partly offset through collaboration. (Ref. Table 1: Training at the National Beekeeping Station, ). Policy Framework Since 1990, the Government has undertaken considerable macro-economic and sectoral policy and institutional reform measures, aimed at enhancing the role of the private sector participation in the development of the agricultural sector. This is enunciated in the current Policy Framework Paper ( ), The National Development Plan ( ), Sessional Paper No.2 of 1996, on Industrial Transformation to the Year 2020, Sessional Paper No.2 of 1994, on National Food Policy, and Sessional Paper No.1 of 1994, on Recovery and Sustainable Development to the Year The current policy provides an enabling environment for Private Sector set up in extension and Service provision. It aims at strengthening co-ordination, collaboration and partnerships with emphasis on participatory planning and implementation. The policy accommodates new initiatives in methodologies and approaches, defines service standards and norms, and factors in strategies to manage and conserve the natural resource base necessary for sustainable agriculture. The Policy calls for increased Extension/research/Farmer linkage, with participatory on-farm adaptive research and extension methodologies for problem analysis. Linkages with local research are encouraged, such as development of hives to suit various agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Within the Policy framework, User group/association formation, to manage the facility that is in place is recommended for sustainable operations. Cost sharing would be instituted on use of public utilities and services, such as us of honey refining units and hive making workshops, as well as on training. Legal Framework This is institutionalized and calls for reinforcement of quality control and standard development/maintenance. Contractual Agreement/Memorandum of Understating (MoU) is a vital component of the legal requirement. Current BeeKeeping Situation The Beekeeping industry in Kenya has displayed a growing partnership between the Public and the Private Sector, where the latters= participation has been highly encouraged for sustainability. Major areas of collaboration are in: # Equipment acquisition # Training # Technology development and transfer # Research # Marketing of products

3 The challenge posed is quality control and maintenance of standards, with the Public Sector playing a nominal role of advisory, supervisory and regulatory. The Government has in the past sourced for resources, (machinery and equipment) from Development Partners, which have been subsequently privatized due to manpower shortfall in the Public Sector as a result of early voluntary retirement and retrenchment, aside from limited budgetary resources for operations. Communities are encouraged to use thee facilities/utilities on commercialized basis before full privatization is accomplished, especially for public utilities that are yet to be privatized. In-built regulatory mechanisms are determined by demand and supply, where quality of services and goods, including value addition, sets the pace for competitiveness, (NALEP1, 2001). Incentives and innovations such as an extra item for every good purchased or simply attractive or diversified packaging will often steal the show, leading to improved marketability of services and goods. One stop packaging of services and goods, for instance, placing equipment production workshops and honey processing services together or extension, training and marketing, will play the magic. (See Map 1 : Wood Workshops and Honey Refineries in Kenya and Table 2: Honey Quality Analysis at NBS 2, ). There is further need for legal and Policy framework to direct the established partnerships and linkages on attitudes change, particularly in the area of expertise, as it relates to consultancy. Benefits of Collaboration: # Faster technological advancement through innovations. # Collaboration, for sustainability of services. # Pooling of resources to acquire costly equipment and source for market. # Exchange of ideas/knowledge/experience. # Skills acquisition through specialized training. # Creation of networks for expertise consultancy. References # Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Marketing. Policy Framework Paper, ( ). # Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - NALEP, April # National Beekeeping Station Annual Reports, # Sessional Paper No.1 of 1994 on Recovery and Sustainable Development to the Year # Sessional Paper No.2 of 1994 on National Food Policy. # Sessional Paper 2 of 1996 on Industrial Transformation to the Year # The National Development Plan ( ). # The National Agricultural and Livestock Extension Policy Guidelines, March # Victor T. C. Middleton and Rebecca Hawkins, (1998)- Sustainable Tourism, a marketing perspective. 1 National Agricultural and Livestock Extension Policy 2 National Beekeeping Station

4 APPENDIX Table 1: Training at the National Beekeeping Station, Year Individual/group School/Institution Agric.Shows/Exhibitions Source: National Beekeeping Station Annual Reports, Table 2: Honey Quality Analysis at the National Beekeeping Station Year Number of Samples Percentage Approved Percentage Disapproved % 9% % 17% % 44% % 50% Source: National Beekeeping Station Annual Report, 2000

5 TECHNOLOGIES AND EQUIPMENT IN HONEY PRODUCTION - PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN KENYA ASIKO G.A. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, P.O. Box 34188, NAIROBI, Kenya. Tel /01, Fax /721007, ilri-ma@africaonline.co.ke CURRICULUM VITAE NAME: Grace A. Asiko DATE OF BIRTH: 1958 PLACE OF BIRTH: KAKAMEGA (Western Province) MALE/FEMALE: Female NATIONALITY: Kenyan ADDRESS: Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Box Nairobi TELEPHONE: FAX: OR sdlp@skyweb.co.ke OCCUPATION: Livestock Production Officer DESIGNATION: Assistant Director of Livestock Development ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION: E.A.C.E/E.A.A.C.E/B.Sc. University of Nairobi PROFESSIONAL & OTHER: Beekeeping & Extension Project Management Environmental Management Training of Trainers EMPLOYMENT RECORD: DURATION DUTIES Assistant Director of Livestock 1998 to Date Training, Extension, Project Proposal, Policy, Technical Guidelines. Senior Livestock Production Officer Research, Training and Extension. Livestock Production Officer I Research, Training and Extension Livestock Prod. Off. II (Research) Research, Training and Extension Assistant Livestock Production Off Extension & Training PREVIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES Co-ordinator, Beekeeping Extension activities in Nyanza Province Co-ordinator, Beekeeping Extension activities in Coast MEMBERSHIP TO OTHER PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES/COMMITTEES PRESENT Kenya Business & Professional Women s Club Secretary/Agric. Committee Chairman Kenya Beekeepers Society Member Animal Production Society of Kenya - Treasurer PAST International Federation of Business and Agriculture Committee Member- Professional Women Africa Region Privatization and Commercialization Secretary for Livestock Ministerial Technical Working Group Department