Abstract:
This study assesses cooperative interventions on beekeeping, household incomes and forest conservation in KAMAKI, Kitui County, Kenya, a leading honey-producing region. The objectives were to determine awareness level among beekeepers on the direct link between forest conservation and beekeeping, assess the contribution of beekeeping to household income and examine the effects of KAMAKI cooperative interventions on honey production, household income and forest conservation. Data were collected from 215 households through purposive sampling, Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews, and field observations. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Pearson correlation were used for analysis. The findings revealed high awareness of the forest-beekeeping link, with significant differences in awareness levels among respondents (F = xyz, df = a, b, P > 0.005, P > 0.001). The study identified three types of beehives used for honey production and income generation: Log hives, Langstroth hives and KTBH. Respondents using Log hives produced an average of 9.5 kg of honey per hive, earning KES 2,400 per hive. Those using Langstroth hives produced an average of 8.7 kg per hive, with an income of KES 2,190 per hive. Trained beekeepers (157) using Log hives produced an average of 10.31 kg per hive, generating KES 53,267 per hive, while untrained beekeepers (58) produced
5.36 kg per hive, earning KES 12,716. For Langstroth hives, trained beekeepers (157) averaged 9.5 kg per hive, with an income of KES 4,153, while untrained beekeepers (58) produced 6.76 kg per hive, generating KES 3,517. Additionally, trained beekeepers (73.4%) contributed more to forest conservation than untrained farmers (26.5%). The study recommends prioritizing beekeeping training, adopting advanced technologies, integrating forest conservation education, and continuous monitoring of cooperative interventions to ensure sustainable development.