Cheptebo is a training farm,with crops and livestock. Groups and schools come here for training and to increase their skills. So establishing a training apiary here makes perfect sense. Walter, the farm manager, is keen and is looking at a spot close to where the 'catcher' boxes have been hung. We helped Walter bait the other two catcher boxes and then presented him with beesuits that had been donated by people in the UK. Seven full suits and two slip on head protectors. Walter was delighted as now he was on the way to having a properly resourced training apiary supported by Bees Abroad.
Members of the Rokocho group came here, bringing their KTB hives with them, fortunately no bees. John showed them how to bait the hives and also pointed out where 'top bars ' were the wrong size by using a bottle top.
The group has 15 members who each contribute 50 schillings per week. This fund is then used to buy things for the group. Bees Abroad have helped them acquire 30 hives, but they still need roofs before they can be used. They have applied to a Kenyan trust for a donation, the decision will be in January next year.
David gave them some instruction on how to protect their hives from pests, like the honey badger.
The group went away happy and enthusiastic.
Tomorrow we leave here. I will be dropped of at the border with Uganda at Malaba, about a four hour drive. John, Mary, David and Samuel will then continue in Kenya to Kitale, a further 3 hour drive for them.
I hope to be picked up on the Ugandan side and continue on to Mbale to spend four days assessing three proposals received by Bees Abroad, before going to Soroti for three days.
I will try to keep the blog going once in Uganda, it all depends on access to cyber places.
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