South Africans Vows To Promote Tanzania’s Bee-Products To International Market

 BY STAFF REPORTER, Tabora

TANZANIA’s beekeeping sector is inching towards a bright future as the South Africans have pledged to be good ambassadors to promote to the international market the diverse bee products that are produced in Tanzania.

Tanzania stands 14th country for beekeeping in the world, and 2nd in Africa with the current capacity to produce at least 32,691 tons of honey per year, with the country using almost 90 percent of that honey in the country.

South Africa, the close bilateral beekeeping friend of Tanzania, has the annual honey producing capacity of 2000 tons, but the actual annual honey demand in the Southernmost country on the African continent is around 4000 tons.

The delegate of ten beekeeping experts and farmers from South Africa (SA) were in the country for a weeklong study tour, with the specific target to acquire the best art bee -farming, especially beekeeping technology and research.

 Tabora Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr. Baltida Buriani (centre) hands over special gift to one of the bee- farmer from South Africa who was in the country for a study tour. 

Speaking at a brief ceremony tailored to climax their tour in the country, the South African Head of Delegation, Mr. Zakaria Thupi, hailed the Government of Tanzania for giving the apiculture sector serious priority, saying they have practically learned a lot in the course of their tour in the country.

“Tanzania has so far made a major stride in the beekeeping and honey processing sector, we have learned a number of issues and remain optimistic that we will use what we have acquired here to help improve our beekeeping culture,” Thupi expressed.

The ceremony was held in Tabora Region where the visitors spent some days to learn various bee keeping issues at the Tabora-based Beekeeping Training Institute (BTI).

Speaking at the event, Tabora Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr. Batlida Buriani thanked the South Africans for selecting Tanzania, especially Tabora Region as their learning hub.

 Tabora Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr. Baltida Buriani speaks during a brief ceremony to tailored for bidding farewell to the delegation of the ten bee experts from South Africa who was in the country for a special learning tour.

“Your visit to our country has multiple advantages as it generally cements the Tanzania-South Africa partnership in the beekeeping corridor, as well as advertising Tanzania's bee products to further parts of the world,” the RC expressed.

For his part, the Director of Beekeeping Research from the Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), Allen Kazimoto expressed to have been impressed with the patriotic manner to which the leadership in theTabora Region has well- treated the visitors with the ‘gloved hands’.

During their visit, the South Africans also visited the Manyoni-based  Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS)'s Beekeeping Offices, and the Agondi Bee Sanctuary (ABS), where they received education on the best way to raise and process bee products, especially honey

 

 Manger of the Beekeeping Value Chain Support Project (BEVAC), Mr. Martin Mgallah stresses a point during one of the training sessions towards the South Africans beekeeping experts.