Africa, Tanzania, Arusha to Host Global Meet On Beekeeping

BEEKEEPING is making impressive headway in Tanzania after the Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, has won international accolades for providing evidence to the country's political will to involve more people in the lucrative business.

Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday ahead of an international beekeepers meeting to be held in Arusha in November, this year, President of the Beekeepers' Global Alliance, popularly known as Apimondia, Mr Gilles Ratia, said beekeeping was not only a simple and gainful economic undertaking for communities but it was also profitable in terms of crop pollination.

"It is gratifying that you have here a prime minister who is engaged in large-scale beekeeping. The engagement is indicative of the political will among national leaders for widespread sharing of necessary skills in beekeeping.

Inspiring stages have been achieved including the keeping of stingless bees," Ratia explained. In terms of cross-pollination, he added, bees do the perfect job to transmit pollen for the farmers to realize high crop yields, in addition to the harvesting of honey, which is a product enjoyed all over the world.

Hai district, in Kilimanjaro region, was among places visited by Mr Ratia, where he was impressed by the achievements gained in beekeeping.

"The stingless bee farm belonging to Mr Baraka, in Hai, can provide the best lesson to those wishing to take up beekeeping for a reliable income," he observed.

He was in the country for five days for assessment of ongoing preparations for the First Apimondia Symposium on African Bees and Beekeeping 2014 to be held from November 11 to 16 and attract 550 participants.

Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Agency Chief Executive Officer, Mr Juma Mgoo, unveiled a comprehensive plan which will allow effective dissemination of information and skills on beekeeping to take advantage of the enormous potential the country is endowed with. "Beekeeping does not require huge capital.

The venture does not require big space either. Proper beekeeping increases an individual's income as well as conservation of the environment," Mr Mgoo explained.

He said the Arusha s mposium was also designed to promote tourism by allowing participants from various continents to tour destination areas of their choice, such as Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater and Manyara National Park.