By Zablon Oyugi, March 4, 2025, A new study has found that Kenyan beekeepers who provide supplemental water during dry and hot seasons can reduce honey bee colony losses by up to 10%.
The research, conducted between October 2021 and September 2022, involved 589 beekeepers across various Kenyan regions and highlighted the significant impact of climate conditions on bee colony health.
On average, beekeepers experienced a 36.6% decrease in their bee colonies during the study period, with losses being more pronounced in the dry and hot season (31.9%) compared to the wet and cold season (20.2%).
The study identified temperature as a key factor influencing colony losses in both seasons, while precipitation was found to mitigate these temperature effects.
Notably, beekeepers who practiced water supplementation during the dry and hot season experienced up to 10% fewer losses than those who did not.
During the wet and cold season, heat stress is reduced, and water availability is improved due to the seasonal conditions, explaining why there was no significant effect of the triple interaction between temperature, precipitation, and water supplementation on livestock decrease for this season.
Management strategies to mitigate climate effects
This research underscores the importance of proactive beekeeping management strategies in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on bee populations.
By implementing water supplementation practices, beekeepers can enhance the resilience of their colonies against environmental stressors, thereby supporting the sustainability of apiculture in Kenya.
The findings offer valuable insights for beekeepers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where similar climatic conditions prevail, and highlight the need for adaptive strategies to ensure the health and productivity of honey bee colonies in the face of changing climate patterns.
Several studies from tropical countries have focused on beekeepers’ opinions of climate change effects on honey productivity. Among the strategies used to mitigate climate change effects, beekeepers may relocate their apiaries, plant trees to increase shade and provide supplementary feeding.
“In SSA, beekeeping management tends to be passive yet one of the few active practices is to provide an artificial source of water,” the study noted.
Third largest honey producer
According to the study, Kenya is the third largest honey producer in the East African region and includes the diversity of landscapes and climates from the SSA region.
The country has a bimodal rainfall regime, with a “short” rainy season between October and November, and a “long” one from the end of March to the end of May. The warmest period is around February and the coolest around August.
“We can advise Kenyan beekeepers to supplement their colonies with water in the dry and hot season, from October to March, to help reduce their bee colony losses,” stated the researchers.
“Kenya having large semi-arid areas, our results are in accordance with findings from similar climatic regions, where colony losses mainly occur during the hottest months,” they added.
Pests infestation
Interestingly, the highest livestock decrease in both seasons was reached in cold and humid areas (minimum seasonal temperature and maximum precipitation values). These high rates could be linked to an elevated infestation of some pests triggered by wetter conditions, as found for small hive beetle in Nigeria.
Moreover, colder and wetter conditions could have a detrimental effect on honey bee activity by reducing both their foraging activity and pollen release from flowers.
This way, the overall colony’s health could be reduced, limiting the chances of survival.
