European Union Roll Out 131m Worth Motorcycles Through BEVAC Project To Boost Tanzania’s Beekeeping Sector

 By STAFF REPORTER, Tabora

Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency,  through the European Union (EU)’s funded Beekeeping Value Chain Support (BEVAC) project has freely distributed at least 15 motorcycles to help heighten the performance of beekeeping sector within 15 districts across the country.

BEVAC project aims to improve the beekeeping value chain through enhanced quality production, value addition of bee products and strengthened trade and access to local, regional, and international markets.

Rolling out of the more than 131m/- worth motorcycles focuses to assist the beekeeping district officers (BDO) within the country’s districts with high beekeeping activities to execute their daily roles more professional.

The beneficiary districts in question include Kakonko, Kibondo, Kasulu, Uvinza, Tanganyika, Nsimbo, Mlele, Sikonge, Kaliua, Urambo,Uyui, Ushetu, Singida DC, Ikungi and Itigi.

In her remarks during a brief ceremony tailored for the official handover of the transportation facilities, Tabora Regional Commissioner (RC) Dr. Batilda Buriani urged the beneficiary beekeeping district officers to make sober use of the motorcycles.

She observed that, the timely support was of prudent to help boosting the performance of the apiculture sector in the country, especially in the regions of Tabora, Kigoma, Katavi, Singida as well as in Shinyanga.

Dr. Buriani however hailed the development partners for their generous support towards complimenting the government's efforts to heighten general performance of the country’s beekeeping sector, unveiled: “Since its inception, BEVAC has so far played key role to help the local bee farmers to adopt the recommended technologies, including use of modern and improved beehives,"

On his side, Cedric Merel, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Tanzania, expressed that EU was very committed and will continue standing at fore front to assist Tanzania to elevate the general performance of the apiculture sector.

 "These 15 motorcycles underline our dedication to enhancing Tanzania's beekeeping sector. They are tools for efficiency, ensuring beekeepers can reach their fullest potential and contribute to the local economy " said Cedric Merel.

He further added that, through BEVAC project, the EU will continue dishing out diverse supports to ensure for the sustainable and professional growth of the key economic sector.

According to the BEVAC’s Manager, Mr. Martin Mgallah, the timely initiative is being implemented in six regions of Katavi, Kigoma, Tabora, Shinyanga and Singida in Tanzania mainland as well as Pemba in the islands of Zanzibar.

“To date, the project has so far managed to train 2,000 beekeepers on good beekeeping practices and equipped District Beekeeping Officers with modern beekeeping extension kits; beekeeping suits, honey quality control measuring devices (refractometers), hives tools, bee smokers and other beekeeping extension equipment,” he expressed.

The robust project is implemented by Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency under the coordination of the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources.