The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has provided technical equipment to improve the honey analysis capacity of the National Beekeeping Institute of Kenya
The equipment delivery ceremony held at the National Beekeeping Institute of Kenya was attended by Eyüp Yavuz Ümütlü, TİKA’s Nairobi coordinator; Harry Kimtai, principal secretary for Livestock at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Kenya; Fille Elmi Bishar, director of Livestock Production; Jumia Morale, director of Beekeeping; and the principal and administrators of the Institute.
The equipment provided by TİKA, includes a nitrogen generator for the analysis of antibiotic residues in honey, devices measuring water and sugar content in honey, and laptop computers, printers, and projectors to be used for training and reporting purposes. The delivery of the equipment to the institute is a part of the Beekeeping Programme, launched by TİKA.
Previously, the institute was unable to measure and report the amount of antibiotic residue in honey, due to lack of equipment. Now it has access to the infrastructure needed to test honey, by measuring and reporting different parameters, using the equipment provided.
Eyüp Yavuz Ümütlü, TİKA’s Nairobi coordinator, stated that Turkey is the second-largest honey manufacturer, after China, and has significant knowledge of and experience in beekeeping. Ümütlü expressed that they wanted to share Turkey’s experience with their Kenyan counterparts. He added, that with this project, they have made significant contribution to honey production, which is a strategic field for Kenya. This project has supported honey sales and production under healthier conditions, and has paved the way for Kenyan honey to enter the East Africa market.
Jumia Morale, director of Beekeeping, stated that TİKA was the first international organisation to directly support the Institute, after the Canadian experts, who played a role in the establishment of the Institute in the 1980s. He remarked that the support provided by TİKA was extremely important and meaningful for them.
