Tanzania: Beekeepers Decry Market Instability, Poor Materials for Packaging

MARKET instability, poor packaging materials and shortage of extension officers in the country are among the factors impeding the beekeeping sector, exhibitors from the sector said.
They argued that Tanzania has the potential of producing huge amount of honey and wax for export, thanks to the country's endowment in rich natural vegetation.

Speaking to the 'Daily News' at the 37th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, one of the exhibitors, Mwinda Mkwamba from Laura Tumaini group Masasi said that the sector was failing to run efficiently due to the fact that honey and other bee related products had no reliable and stable market.
"We produce large quantity but we are not assured of the market, this impedes our efforts as we end up keeping the products at home and when there is market, supply surpasses demand, badly affecting the price," Mr Mkwamba noted.
He explained that despite Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda spearheaded campaigns on beekeeping, more efforts remains to be made to exploit the money minting sub sector.
He asked the government to help them access reliable and stable market for their products in and outside the country. Another exhibitor, Mr Amos Matiku from Bonchugu community group in Serengeti lamented about scarcity of packaging material, saying that lack of such materials rendered their products inferior in the market.

He said that getting packaging materials is very difficult as Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) is the only reliable organisation distributing the materials to all beekeepers in the country. He mentioned shortage of extension services amongst keepers, saying that the deficiency makes producers to have inadequate knowledge on appropriate keeping methods.
"Most of beekeepers lack relevant knowledge on beekeeping and end up applying traditional ways which are not result oriented," he explained, underscoring the need of posting extension officers to the areas where beekeeping is dominant.
He also advised the government through local authorities to set aside budget for developing beekeeping sector in the country. Mr Said Mandua, an environmental officer and beekeeping coordinator from Mpanda council said that in the district, vegetation destruction and climate change were among the hindrances of beekeeping activities.