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Despite having a few number of studies conducted in Ruvuma on beekeeping, in-depth
assessment of entire honey value chain is lacking. This study assessed honey value chain
development in Ruvuma region, using Songea and Nyasa districts as study areas.
The study mapped actors along the value chain, determined nodes’ profitability, assessed
the business environment of the value chain and honey production trend in the study area.
A sample of 16 groups of producers, 22 individual producers, 24 traders and 3 industries
were selected randomly for this study. Questionnaires, checklists and interviews were the
main primary data collection methods. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis,
Value Chain Analysis (VCA) and Gross Margin Analysis. In this study three actors were
determined; producers, traders and consumers. The results showed two distribution
channels; 92% sold their honey to local customers in the village and 16% sold their honey
to traders. Honey was mainly consumed locally, this was due to lack of market
information to the actors. Several business environment components such as rules and
regulations, custom and norms, transportation and supporting functions were assessed.
Three governmental and one non-governmental supporting functions were identified in
the study area namely; Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), Small Industry
Development Organization (SIDO), Tanzania Forest Fund (TAFF) and Caritas. The Gross
Market Margin of individual producers was 11% and group producers was -22% which
was lower compared to that of traders 43%. This implies that producers had higher costs
of production compared to the traders. In order for producers to maximize their profits,
there should be an improvement in quantity and quality of honey produced as well as the
expansion of markets. |
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