Impact of interventions in bee-keeping and irrigation household welfare in the Kerio basin development zone, Kenya

Abstract

The Primary purpose of this study was to examine the impact of interventions in bee-keeping and irrigation on household welfare in the Kerio Basin Development Zone. Specifically, the study has analyzed four main areas of impacts: employment-creation, income-generation, production and consumption patterns. Twenty seven modern bee-keepers and thirty-nine farmers in Chemron-Marigat-Perkerra irrigation area were interviezed. Information was also sought from institutions involved in these two activities. The results of the study reveal the following: a. Households that have adopted the new methods of bee-keeping reported that this activity provides, in varying degrees, employment to members of households. Other major benefits include increased honey production, earnings from the sale of honey and increased honey for home consumption. b. The problems experienced by the households that have adopted new methods of bee-keeping are: the physical environment, pests, and prices and marketing...