Isingiro District often face persistent droughts that wither traditional crops and dry up water sources, the once-reliable cycle of farming has turned into a desperate gamble. Faced with dusty fields and empty granaries, many young people see no choice but to abandon their homes and migrate to urban centers or across borders in search for greener pastures. Yet, amidst this uncertainty, Kamatenesi Kellen has chosen a different path, one that doesn’t rely on the next raincloud to succeed.
In her community, Kellen stands as a beacon of resilience, having diversified from traditional cultivation to beekeeping. While her neighbors struggle with the effects of drought, Kellen has built a bee keeping business that thrives regardless of the weather. By focusing on honey and its high-value byproducts, she has created a life where her income remains steady with or without drought.
In Kellen’s own words “I attest my success to my participation in the Green Climate Youth Champions project which was implemented by the Young Farmers Champions Network (YOFCHAN), in partnership with Isingiro district local government and FAO that aimed at enhancing information on safe migration, climate migration and strengtheining green agribusinesses. Through this project, I attended a number of tainings including; business mindset change training, peer to peer and market day engagement and participation in the Isingiro district level fair to showcase my innovations”.
Thank to the trainings, Kellen acquired a number of skills including climate smart agriculture practices, green agribusiness modelling, branding and marketing, record keeping and financial literacy in addition to exposure visits to successful green agribusiness farms such as JERO FARM, an innovative urban agroecology hub located in Kitala Village along Entebbe Road, dedicated to empowering women and youth through training in sustainable, small-space farming and the production of value-added organic products https://www.jerofarm.ug/, These trainings transformed her business mindset and leadership. She stopped seeing herself as a honey harvester and started acting as a visionary leader. By mastering the tools of professional individual business planning and financial forecasting, she learned how to move beyond raw honey and unlock the true commercial potential of every hive.
“My participation in this project has helped to move beyond raw honey and unlock the true commercial potential of every hive.” – Kellen
To turn this vision into reality, Kellen has established rural hubs that function as a training centers. Through these hubs, she provides modern hives and equipment to youth and refugees on subsidized loan schemes, while her team of “Apiary Masters” ensures every drop of honey meets international quality standards. By acting as a guaranteed “off-taker,” Kellen buys 100% of her farmers’ harvests at a premium price, effectively dismantling the exploitative middlemen who buy at a lower price compared to the market price. Instead of selling only raw honey, Kellen processes beeswax into eco-friendly candles and organic polishes, and harvests propolis and bee venom.
In her own words, Kellen emphasized; “My participation in this project has helped to move beyond raw honey and unlock the true commercial potential of every hive. Today, my mission is to build a commercial beekeeping business that saves both our forests and a generation, empowering over 5,000 youth to earn a steady income alongside me.”
Young Farmers Champions Network 