Beekeeping plays major role in improving our biodiversity

Lack of standards puts honey consumers on their own, especially when they move to screen the limpidness of the honey they buy. But with the support from the government, SUA researchers said they are working on the standards as honey comprises a variety of micro nutrients required in human bodies at lower quantity.

The three-year study, which would be completed in 2018, will cover selected areas of Tabora, Shinyanga and Kigoma. It is estimated that Tanzania has about 9.2 million honeybee colonies with a production potential of bee products of 138,000 tons of honey and 9,200 tons of beeswax per annum worth US dollars 138 million and US dollars 18.4 million respectively.

Employing roughly two million people in rural areas, the sector generates US dollars 1.7 million each year after sales of honey and beeswax. Experts say the new guidelines will add value to Tanzanian-made honey.

. Studies show honey is not only a source of income generation, but also a source of food, raw material and medicine. Beekeeping also plays a major role in improving biodiversity and increasing crop production through pollination.

We are told that the plan to set standards is aimed at scaling down adulteration with impossible to detect cheap sweeteners or illegal antibiotics.

Government figures show that there are about 33.5 million hectares of forests and woodlands that are scattered throughout the country and are ideal for developing beekeeping.

Practically, 20.5 million hectares out of this area are unreserved forests and woodlands while 13 million hectares of forest and woodland have been gazetted as forest reserves.

In a bid to address deforestation blamed for causing climate change, Tanzania Community Forest Network has embarked on distribution of modern beehives to communities in Kondoa District of Dodoma Region thanks to funding from Norwegian government.

The Norwegian who are funding a five year project under Climate Change Mitigation Group, (CCMG) which seeks to give communities alternative sources of income to survive to wean them from harvesting forestry products for cash.

Masawi villagers have been given 20 modern beehives worth 5m/- to enable them engage in honey production and earn income instead of destroying Masawi Forest Reserve.

The five year Norwegian government funded project covers 2012/17) and dubbed: “Empowering Communities through Training on Participatory Forest Management (PFM), REDD+ Climate Change Initiatives (ECOPRC), targets individuals and groups of people.
WE appreciate the ECOPRC for supporting conservation efforts through curbing deforestation caused by charcoal makers, timber processors and loggers, among others.

Apart from training the villagers on modern beekeeping techniques, we hope the funding will also assist to buy other supporting equipment such as honey reflectometer, glass jars, plastic jars and safety harvesting gear.

We have no doubts that project is expected to increase the communities’ incomes because honey has a reliable domestic and regional market in East African Community region.
In the same vein, Kondoa District council should start training people in modern beekeeping and honey production as we as on processing, packaging, handling and business management skills.

Almost 75 per cent of honey produced in the country is consumed locally while the 25 per cent is exported to Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Italy and the EAC region.
The country has an estimated 48.8 million hectares of forest cover much of which is suitable for beekeeping.