EU Rolls Out 43m/- Worth Motorcycles To Boost Beekeeping Ventures In Zanzibar’s Archipelago

By Valentine Oforo, Pemba

THE Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock in Zanzibar have handed over five motorcycles to the four district forestry officers and their supervisor in Pemba. 

 

 

Worth over 43m/-, the support which has freely been donated by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) through the European Union (EU)’s funded Beekeeping Value Chain Support (BEVAC) project targets to heighten performance of the agriculture sector in the Tanzania’s famous Archipelago of Zanzibar.

The 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.

 

Speaking yesterday during a colorful event tailored for the official handing over of the support, held at the Chamanangwe open grounds in Pemba district, the Director of Planning, Policy and Research at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock in Zanzibar, Mr Makame Kitwana Makame said the donated support would play pivotal role to help fast tracking beekeeping value chain initiatives in Pemba Isle.

“We’re looking forward that, through these modern motorcycles, the forestry officers within the four beneficiary districts will stand a more professional side to execute their daily roles pertaining to the general improvement of the beekeeping sector,” he added.

Similarly, he challenged the officers to make proper and fruitful use of the transportation facilities in order to assure the much-needed end-results are attained.

 

Speaking for his part, the BEVAC project’s Cluster Coordinator in Pemba, Juma Omar Abdalla, apart from expressing delight for the timely support, said the motorcycles will facilitate the smooth dispensation of extension services in the sector within all Pemba districts.

According to the BEVAC’s Manager, 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.

 

The robust project, BEVAC, is being implemented by Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency under the coordination of the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources for Mainland and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock in Zanzibar.

 

Recently, the project also distributed at least 15 motorcycles to help heighten the performance of beekeeping sector within 15 districts across the Tanzania Mainland.