Honey as jam, for brewing beer, ceremonial functions and traditional medicine. Bees-wax is used to manufacture candles, shoe making, taxidermy and cosmetic manufacture.
The market situation
The market for honey both domestic and export is high. The small amount of honey produced is consumed locally.
Target source
To be supplied from beekeepers in Songea Municipality and some could come from neighbouring districts such as Songea, Namtumbo, Mbinga and Tunduru Districts Currently it is estimated that there are about 57960 traditional and 436 modern beehives in the region. 39% of the region’s beehives are in Songea Municipality.
Target market/buyers
The honey and wax to be produced will be sold to people within the Municipality and some will be exported to other countries such as Malawi, Zambia, and Mozambique.
Honey could be certified as organic by International Organic Product Certifiers to increase demand.
Future expectations
The Municipal Council has reserved an area for beekeeping particularly at Mshangano ward.
To encourage beekeepers to form associations to address together their production and marketing problems.
Modernization of beehives will increase the production and quality of honey and wax. It is possible to get honey from other beekeeping areas to process at the plant.
Processing chain
Songea honey is processed by using traditional methods. Honey processing capacity in the country is low.
Modern honey processing industry is necessary, thus there is a need for new investment to meet the quality and market requirements and absorb the expected increase in production as a result of use of modern beehives.
Picture No.14: Morden Beehives;
Processing Facility
Investment into processing facility should be a joint venture between a strategic investor (perhaps holding 80% of shares) and the Beekeepers Associations (holding 20% of shares).
The strategic investor would inject capital, technology and market contacts.
Market imperfection/distortion
Beekeepers are often located in remote and inaccessible areas. The small scale production and absence of producer groups and associations limits market opportunities and depresses incomes.
Quality demands
Organic honey and bee wax have a growing demand in the world market and have good prices. Production has to be improved to meet the quality requirements for organic honey. There is a need for clean, uncontaminated, smoke and chemical free products in good packaging with a trademark and certified organic or quality approval by Tanzania Bureau of Standards.
Type of Investor recommended
A strategic investor with capital and market contacts. He /She should be willing to go into a joint venture with beekeepers associations for reliable supply of honey for processing.
