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The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of increased apiculture in Urambo District. Specifically the study intended to: identify factors influencing participation or lack of participation of households in apiculture; estimate the contribution of beekeeping on the smallholder farmer household’s income; identify challenges associated with the apiculture sector and come up with appropriate recommendations.
The study used 80 respondents who were sampled using purposive sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Both Primary and secondary methods were used to collect information relevant to the study. Data obtained were analyzed
through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software program.
The study found that there are various
factors influencing participation of households in apiculture. These include source of income, Poverty alleviation, medicine, hobby, and culture and employment opportunities.
Furthermore the study found that beekeeping plays a greater role towards the contribution on the smallholder farmer household income. For example, Interviewed Beekeepers in Urambo District earned TZS.215,659 as mean income from sales of honey and bees wax and earned TZS.146,437 as mean income from sales of tobacco. Compared to National per capita income, which is US$ 293 (TZS 380,900), it shows that beekeepers in the district are relatively better off because of beekeeping industry.
Moreover the study found that there are various challenges associated with the apiculture sector and come up with appropriate recommendations. These include Market Challenges, Lack of implementation mechanisms of beekeeping policy, Lack of appropriate equipment, storage facilities, packaging materials and poor technologies, Bush fire burning, Biological challenges and financial challenges.
Finally it was recommended that the government should design training programmes focusing on entrepreneurship and business to beekeepers and other stakeholders; network to beekeepers should be well formulated to ensure effectiveness participation in policy formulation and stakeholders should help beekeepers to access credit so as to buy modern beehives. |
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