Seven African countries have converged in Tanzania's Tabora Region for a four-day meeting to discuss and share experiences in beekeeping, agroforestry and forest conservation. The meeting, which started on November 9, 2026, aims to leverage Tanzania's extensive experience in modern beekeeping practices and honey production. The country's rich Miombo woodland resources have made it an attractive destination for other nations seeking to learn from its expertise. Tanzania's experience in beekeeping and honey production is considered valuable for other countries.
The seven participating countries are Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania, the host nation. According to the Director of Administration and Human Resources Management at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Bernard Patrick, Tabora was selected as the meeting venue due to its extensive forests dominated by Miombo trees. These trees are recognised for their contribution to high-quality honey production in Africa and internationally. The region's resources have attracted other countries interested in learning more about Tanzania's honey industry.
Tanzania produces approximately 73.72 million kilogrammes of honey annually, with Tabora and Katavi regions contributing significantly to national production. The extensive Miombo woodlands found in these regions are a major factor in their high honey production. Mr Patrick, who represented the ministry's Permanent Secretary, noted that Tanzania had considerable experience in beekeeping and quality honey production. He added that the country's expertise in this sector was a major draw for other nations.
The Sustainable Beekeeping and Agroforestry Project in Tanzania, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has contributed to the country's strong forest management system. The project's coordinator, Dr Zainabu Bungwa, said the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) managed 465 forest reserves across the country. The country's forest management system has generated significant benefits and attracted other countries interested in learning from Tanzania's experience. Dr Bungwa expressed confidence that Tanzania would continue to improve its beekeeping sector through increased community awareness.
Participants at the meeting have expressed their expectations of learning from Tanzania's experience in beekeeping and honey production. A participant from Namibia, Ms Anastazia Katobela, said she hoped to learn how to better exploit opportunities arising from bee products, including making candles from beeswax and improving honey storage methods. Her Zimbabwean counterpart, Mr Edward Samwel, noted that his country also produced large quantities of honey but wanted to understand why Tanzania performed better in the sector.
Mr Samwel identified the importance of adopting proper beekeeping practices and following appropriate procedures when harvesting bee products as a key lesson from Tanzania. He noted that Tanzania placed great emphasis on proper beekeeping practices and the right methods of harvesting bee products. The meeting is expected to provide a platform for participants to share experiences and learn from each other. Participants have also been encouraged to explore tourist attractions in Tabora Region and other destinations across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The meeting is a significant opportunity for the participating countries to learn from Tanzania's experience and improve their own beekeeping sectors. The country's expertise in modern beekeeping practices and honey production is considered valuable for other nations. The meeting's outcomes are expected to contribute to the growth of the beekeeping sector in Africa and improve the livelihoods of communities involved in beekeeping.
Key points
- Tanzania's extensive experience in modern beekeeping practices and honey production makes it an attractive destination for other nations seeking to learn from its expertise.
- The country's strong forest management system has generated significant benefits and attracted other countries interested in learning from Tanzania's experience.
- The meeting provides a platform for participants to share experiences and learn from each other, with expected outcomes contributing to the growth of the beekeeping sector in Africa.
