Benefits to the Rural Communities
For the small-scale farmers in rural communities across Kenya, the Tripartite Model helped to address many of the issues they faced:

There are few income opportunities for small-scale farmers in the rural areas of Kenya, most of whom simply grow crops for their own subsistence and some who sell surplus production of food crops through the local market. Their small land-size (generally between 0.5 - 2 acres), the lack of access to capital, and the absence of a stable and guaranteed market have all prevented them from being able to climb out of their poverty.

Therefore, the partnership forged between Honey Care and various development sector organizations through the Tripartite Model provided them with a good opportunity to get involved in bee keeping as an income generating opportunity, thereby helping them to reduce their poverty.

What was different about the Tripartite Model was that it wasn't just another free hand-out; it was a system through which they could get the support and assistance they required to get involved in an income generating activity without having to lose their dignity or self-confidence. This wasn't more alms, it was an opportunity for them to help address their problem of poverty by generating an income through their own efforts and their own labour. The Tripartite Model empowered these communities in a manner that few other development projects in Kenya had done in the past.

In addition, bee keeping was the ideal activity for these small-scale farmers in rural communities, because it complemented existing farming systems, was simple and relatively cheap to start, and generated income and required a very low level of inputs (land, labour, capital, and knowledge).

By forging a partnership between the development sector and a private sector organization, the Tripartite Model created an enabling environment for these rural communities to start bee keeping. This was achieved through a combination of adequate training and easy access to loans to acquire beehives and other equipment, easy repayment terms, extension and advisory support, a guaranteed market for their produce at a mutually acceptable price.

And participation in the project wasn't imposed on them or randomly implemented; it was a demand-driven process and they had the option of being involved or not. They were provided with the information and the facts (through the demonstrations that Honey Care conducted in their home area) and it was then up to them to decide. They understood the benefits and the potential pitfalls as well. In many areas, farmers generally take a wait-and-see approach before getting into bee keeping. They see how their neighbors perform, and then only take up bee keeping if they are convinced that it is economically viable.

Further, the involvement of the development sector organizations that these communities knew and trusted also assured them that they would not be exploited by yet another agro-business, as had happened to them frequently in the past. If they had a problem or concern with the way Honey Care was operating, they could turn to the NGO or donor organization who played the role of primary arbitrator and mediator between Honey Care and the farmers.

The Tripartite Model's facilitative and consultative process and price negotiation gave these communities a voice and a seat at the table. The prices of their produce was not just arbitrarily established by the company; the community had a chance to negotiate a better price and demand an explanation of why the price had been decreased or remained the same after one year. And because of the involvement of the NGO or donor organization in the project, Honey Care had to provide a clear and logical reply to these questions. The Tripartite Model acknowledged that the farmers were not just junior partners in this relationship; they were the producers of the honey and were therefore equal partners.

As an example of how the Tripartite Model empowers the communities and allows them to negotiate prices with Honey Care, in May 2001, Honey Care was invited to a meeting by the AKF in Kwale District to negotiate the renewal of the annual contract with the communities in the area. At this meeting, the farmers successfully negotiated a KShs. 15 per Kg price increase for their honey from Honey Care.

In May 2002, these same farmers asked Honey Care to explain why a 500gm jar of their honey was selling at KShs. 210 in the Supermarkets in Nairobi, and yet they were only being paid KShs. 100 per Kg for their honey. Honey Care then had to explain the cost of the glass, jar, the lid, label, packaging, transportation, and the supermarket's 25% profit margin, as well as openly declare our profit margin. After an intense discussion, the farmers agreed with Honey Care that the price should be kept constant for the new contract period, and as a concession, were also able to get a guarantee from us that it wouldn't decrease (it would only go up or remain the same) the following year, no matter what.

Therefore, the Tripartite Model had numerous benefits for the rural communities as well. It is these demonstrable benefits for the communities that has made Honey Care's approach to bee keeping through the Tripartite Model so popular. Every week, we get numerous letters from small-farmers across Kenya and many of them even travel all the way to Nairobi to meet us and learn about how they can get involved in bee keeping with Honey Care.

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