Misean Cara Project Officer, Tom Carroll shares with us the inspiring story behind a beekeeping and honey production project in Kenya, at Baraka Agricultural College in Molo, which is managed by the Franciscan Brothers.
Tom spent 10 years at Baraka Agricultural College, where he, along with Br. Tony Dolan, the former Minister General of the Franciscan Brothers and past Principal of the College, initiated the Highland Honey Project. Since 2012, Misean Cara has been providing funding for several Franciscan Brothers projects at the College.
Earlier this year, a group of visitors from Misean Cara and Irish Aid (Ireland’s overseas development programme funded by the Government of Ireland) travelled to Baraka College, where they received gifts of honey to take home, inspiring Tom to recall for our readers the history behind a project that has brought education and sustainable livelihood opportunities to many farmers in the region.
Baraka Highlands Honey: A Sweet Path to Sustainable Development – by Tom Carroll, Misean Cara Project Officer for Sustainable Livelihoods
Baraka Highlands Honey is an initiative of Baraka Agricultural College in Kenya, a pioneering institution founded in 1974 and managed by the Franciscan Brothers. The college has long been dedicated to promoting Sustainable Agriculture for Rural Development (SARD) across East Africa, supporting small-scale farmers in developing local resources and creating employment opportunities.
In the 1990s, with support from Irish Aid, Baraka Agricultural College established a dedicated honey processing facility and classroom, marking a significant step forward in its mission. This facility not only produces high-quality honey and other bee products, such as candles, bee jelly, foundation sheets, and propolis, but also serves as an educational hub. The college offers comprehensive beekeeping training courses that equip local farmers with essential skills in hive management, honey harvesting, and processing techniques. These courses empower farmers to increase their productivity and turn beekeeping into a sustainable and profitable venture. Another income-generating unit at the college, Baraka Workshop, produces and sells high-quality beekeeping equipment, playing a crucial role in supporting the beekeeping sector.
Baraka Highlands Honey is well known across Kenya for its organic, well-blended pure honey, which is sold through supermarkets and retail outlets as well as from the college itself. The income generated from these sales supports the college’s educational programs, ensuring that Baraka Agricultural College can continue to fulfill its mission of fostering sustainable development and rural empowerment.
Through initiatives like Baraka Highlands Honey, Baraka Agricultural College continues to make an important impact on communities across East Africa, helping small-scale farmers harness their potential and create lasting positive change.
For more information on Baraka Highlands Honey and the impactful work of Baraka Agricultural College, visit their official website.
