Some 24 vulnerable groups in the Lunga Lunga subcounty in Kwale have received training and equipment for beekeeping.
This is in a bid to build their capacity to tackle poverty and improve food security and nutrition in the county.
The 360 farmers were trained in modern beekeeping and supported with beehives, extractive and storage equipment like boots, honey harvesting suits, bee brushes and smokers.
Kwale has great potential for honey production but due to the effects of climate change and poor beekeeping methods, farmers are unable to maximise production.
Frequent tree felling by locals for charcoal and illegal logging have also contributed to poor bee farming.
Kidscare organisation has moved in to equip smallholder farmers from vulnerable groups to empower them to promote conservation and sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping.
Director George Baya said the use of modern beehives and better environment management will ensure easy and maximum harvests, paving the way for local farmers to double their profits and improve lives.
"The programme will go a long way to improve livelihoods of the farmers and address food insecurity," he said.
The 360 beneficiaries are the third lot of the NGO's community empowerment programme.
The main objective of the programme is to cushion residents from hunger occasioned by climate change and improve the food and nutrition security of vulnerable households, especially women and children.
Lunga -Lunga subcounty is also one of the areas affected by gender based violence, with teen pregnancies and child marriages wreaking havoc mostly as a result of poverty.
Baya said the programme seeks to protect women and children from further vices and ensure good health of the community.
He said beekeeping is good for small-scale farmers as it is completely sustainable, has better income and needs less input.
The director said beekeeping has the potential to contribute to Kenya's food basket if well supported.
The NGO in partnership with the county government is linking farmers with extension livestock officers to help them improve production and find better markets.
Baya said smallholder farmers sell their honey locally and the programme seeks to open up more opportunities for them.
Farmer Francis Kioko said honey sales could go for up to Sh2,500 per half litre but currently is sold at Sh500 because of poor market.
He said the training and equipment will assist them do better bee farming and exploit its opportunities.
They have been using traditional production systems and poor technical skills that give them low yields.
The empowerment will improve farmers' livelihoods and income.
Kioko said the first and second phases of the programme had changed the lives of many locals.
Another farmer, Mbeyu Mazera, hailed the programme as her group received 34 beehives.
Mazera said she expected their lives to improve since they have enough skills and support.
"We had no better knowledge of how to do productive beekeeping but moving forward things are going to change," she said.
She said the biggest challenge was insects, diseases and human destruction.
She expressed gratitude for the training that raised their awareness to enhance conservation and beekeeping in Kwale.
