Researcher taps honey from stingless bee

• Young scientist aims to domesticate the insect that produces extremely sweet honey

At the moment, about 30 special hives are in place and hopes to have more than 150 in the next one year.

“It is a new concept and the bees are not used to the hives and need a bit of time to adjust,” he says.

However, the bees, he asserts, must remain in their natural habitat. “Their honey is three times more expensive than ordinary honey and we are using a syringe to suck it from the honey pots they make inside the hives,” explains the researcher.

Macharia has also extended his domestication project to the Coast and is already working with some bee keepers in Kilifi. “I intend to move to Rift Valley and Ukambani in due course,” he says.

In the next few years, Macharia says honey buyers might have to choose between honey and “sting-less bee honey” from the shelves of supermarkets. “It is the ultimate goal,” he says.

bmuiruri@nation.co.ke