TANZANIA – Kijiji Cha Nyuki, a Tanzania based company is seeking to invest over Ksh700 million to boost its honey production capacity.

The investment, according to reports by Citizen Tanzania, will be channelled towards installation of modern bee hives in a bid to meet rising demand of the commodity in both the domestic and international markets.

The global honey market is forecasted to grow from US$8.17 billion in 2021 to US$11.88 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 5.5% in forecast period, indicates Fortune Business Insight.

The sector has exhibited unprecedented and staggering growth during the pandemic period, given its antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties, receiving appreciation and wider acceptance as an effective medicine to treat acute cough and throat infection observed in corona-infected patients.

By undertaking the investment, Kijiji Cha Nyuki will be able to increase its production capacity six times, as traditional beehives can produce only about five litres of honey per year, while modern ones can produce up to 30 litres.

Similarly, while traditional ones offer only honey, modern ones give a farmer other bee product such as wax, pollen and royal jelly.

“Our ambitious goal is to ensure that the beekeeping industry grows – and that young people get jobs by being engaged in the beekeeping industry,” the company’s CEO, Philemon Kiemi said.

Tanzanian is endowed with over 450 natural forests that include plantations, mangrove, nature forest reserves and bee reserves under the protection of the Tanzania Forestry Service (TFS).

The country produces at least 30,400 tonnes of honey annually but the plan is to increase the production to 60,000 tonnes in 2025, according to the TFS strategic plan.

Ethiopia which is the largest honey producer in Sub-Sahara Africa, produces about 45,000 metric tonnes of raw honey annually.

EU invests US$10m in Tanzania’s honey production sector

To further boost Tanzania’s honey production, the European Union (EU) through the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel), have signed a partnership with the government for sustainable production.

The US$10 million initiative aims to improve the beekeeping value chain, contributing to sustainable economic growth in at least six honey producing regions in Tanzania.

It will be implemented in partnership with the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MITI).

Within this framework, Enabel will collaborate with ITC for the implementation of the component “Market access and trade of beekeeping products”.

Specifically, this involves institutional capacity building for the establishment of an enabling environment for actors in the beekeeping value chain.

These actors will be trained to improve the management of bee reserves and apiaries. ITC will also be responsible for enhancing market access and trade in bee products.

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