Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research
Organization (KALRO)
CLIMATE –SMART
BEE KEEPING PRACTICES
ADAPTATION – MITIGATION – SUSTAINABILITY
CHRISPINUS DISI
DEFINITION
Climate – smart beekeeping practices (CSBP)
are strategies and technologies that help
beekeeping systems adapt to climate change,
mitigate its impacts and sustainability increase
productivity while protecting ecosystems.
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON BEE KEEPING
[Link] humidity and temperature. For example, lead to heat
stress and consequently reductions in honey production.
[Link] bee mortality due to heat stress and starvation.
[Link] access to water, restricting bee to forages and
disrupting feed(honey) production.
[Link] use changes for crops and pastures thus reducing the
quantity and quality of bee forages available.
1. CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PRACTICES
• Use of resilient bee species and strains
Promoting locally adapted honeybee ecotypes and
stingless bees that can withstand drought, pests and
diseases.
• Climate –resilient hive technologies
Movable-frame hives, insulated hives and top-bar hives
that reduce heat stress and enhance survival.
Two queens in one hive will contribute enough worker
bee population and allow colonies to produce honey
even in bad seasons(when resources are minimal) as
opposed to a single queen
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PRACTICES
• Forage diversification
Planting drought –tolerant, nectar and pollen-rich
trees (e.g. acacias, grevillea, calliandra, moringa) to
ensure year-round forage.
• Water provisioning
Providing safe water sources during drought to
prevent bee dehydration
• Seasonal management
Adjusting harvesting, colony division and feeding
practices according to rainfall and flowering patterns.
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PRACTICES
• Proper farm planning
Publicize farm planning that allows setting aside
of minimum land for few trees per farmer.
• Youth empowerment
Empower youth to start nurseries that grow tree
seedlings. Trees that helps in mitigating
negative effects of climate.
2. CLIMATE MITIGATION PRACTICES
• Pollination services
Enhancing biodiversity and crop yields while
supporting carbon sequestration in
agroecosystems.
• Agroforestry integration
Beekeeping tied with tree planting contributes
to carbon capture and reduces deforestation
pressures.
CLIMATE MITIGATION PRACTICES
• Low carbon inputs
Using organic, locally available materials for
hive construction (e.g., bamboo, clay, recycled
wood) instead of plastics or imported wood.
• Waste reduction
Recycling wax and byproducts into value-added
products, reducing environmental pollution.
3. PRODUCTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM)
Reducing chemical use through biocontrols, cultural practices and resistant strains.
Supplementary feeding
Use of climate-resilient bee feeds (proteins substitutes, sugar syrups) during forage
gaps.
Harvesting innovations
Proper honey harvesting, processing and storage to minimize postharvest losses.
Diversification of bee products.
Promoting propolis, royal jelly, pollen, stingless bee honey and wax to spread risks
under climate stress.
4. KNOWLEDGE, POLICY
AND COMMUNITY ACTIONS
Early warning systems
Linking beekeepers with climate information services for drought/ flood prediction.
Capacity building
Training farmers on CSBP through demonstration hives, farmer field schools and
digital platforms.
Community – based conservation
Establishing bee reserves, forage banks and landscape restoration programs.
Policy support
Encouraging incentives for climate-smart apiculture (seedlings, training, carbon
credits, insurance schemes).
SUMMARY
Climate-smart beekeeping helps beekeepers:-
Adapt to climate risks (droughts, floods, pests).
Mitigate climate change (biodiversity, carbon
sequestration).
Increase production and income sustainably.