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My name is Margaret Wanjiku,
my background is in community development. My field extension work in community development involves visiting farmers in rural areas to provide them with the necessary resources, knowledge, and skills to improve their agricultural practices and ultimately increase their yields and income.
In Africa, this type of work is crucial for promoting sustainable development, poverty reduction, and food security. During the course of my visits to farmers, I met farmers across the country and especially beekeepers who educated me on the importance of bees, and how they help in food security. However, I was shocked to learn that most beekeepers lack the necessary technology to protect their colonies and in turn, our farms are not pollinated leading to minimal yields. To solve this challenge, I founded Pollen Patrollers.
Bee colonies are collapsing at alarming rates—40% globally and up to 60% in Africa each year. This threatens food security, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods since bees pollinate 80% of our food crops. Farmers face reduced yields, rising costs, and increased food insecurity without reliable pollination. Our technology helps farmers increase yields by up to 50% and beekeepers boost income by 33%.
