Quality to push Dar honey market globally

THE government is out to help bee keepers to increase the quality and standard of honey in the country so that they can penetrate the lucrative global honey market.

The Permanent Secretary the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Prof Eliamani Sedoyeka said yesterday the availability of a reliable and ready market for honey will boost beekeeping farming and improve value additional chain for bee products.

“China has already agreed to import our honey based on the allocated quota. We are working on the number to establish the actual amount of our quota,” Prof Sedoyeka when speaking to reporters after closing the beekeeping stakeholders meeting.

The introduction of modern agriculture technologies in beekeeping is expected to enhance efficiency along with beekeepers’ earnings and welfare in the country.

It is estimated that about 99 per cent of beekeeping in the country is done by small-scale beekeepers who use traditional beehives made of logs, barks and guards.

The country has many areas for honey production led by Tabora and Geita and its uniqueness gives it an upper market hand in the global competition.

“We are convinced that if we continue with these efforts, we will reach a point where our honey will be one of the best export products globally,” said Prof Sedoyeka.

A paper published by the College of Business Education (CBE) in 2020 finds that the use of traditional technology in beekeeping and lacks of support from the government were the most challenging factors to beekeepers.

“Based on these findings,” the study recommends, “the government…and private sector to build capacity to beekeepers on the application of modern beekeeping technologies including the use of frame and plastic bar beehives and access to both domestic and foreign markets”.

The study, Tanzania Beekeeping Production Initiatives for Sustainable

Industrial Development is written by Petro Maziku, Nestory Assenga, Richard Msacky and Mwanaidi Shaffii.

Tanzania Forestry Service (TFS) statistics showed that the country produced around 30,400 tonnes of honey annually, but the plan is to increase the production to 60,000 tonnes coming 2025.