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The purpose of the study was to identify potential challenges and opportunities facing
beekeepers in commercializing of bee products in Tanzania, the evidence of Mvomero
district. With a qualitative approach the study was conducted as a case study design. 52
beekeepers from five selected wards were interviewed on specific research questions
about potential beekeepers, potential opportunities for beekeeping in Mvomero District;
potential challenges facing beekeepers in commercializing bee products and measures
to be taken to overcome the challenges facing beekeepers in commercializing bee
products in Mvomero District.
The findings show that most of beekeepers in Mvomero district practice small scale
traditional bee keeping. More recently than before, few beekeepers were transforming
from subsistence to commercial bee keeping. The involvement of non-government
organizations in beekeeping activities motivates beekeepers to shift from small
traditional beekeeping to large modern bee keeping. Although the area is endowed with
potential beekeeping natural resources like good forestry coverage there serious
challenges still facing beekeepers in commercializing bee products. The challenges
include lack of extension officers, expensiveness of the modern bee hives, poor social
infrastructures to organize bee keepers, lack of package materials and market
instability.
It is therefore recommended that measures suggested by beekeepers should be
considered in order for commercial beekeeping to be realized in Mvomero district.
These measures include: Market stabilization through special agents to encourage bee
keepers, contract bee keeping to guarantee for market, capacity building to equip bee
keepers with relevant bee keeping business knowledge, allocation of resident extension
officers nearby the beekeeping zones to assure their availability, facilities like bee hives
and storage facilities should be supplied to help beekeepers get them easily,
harmonizing the social infrastructures to facilitate organized bee keeping |
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