NEARLY500 beekeepers in Chunya District, Mbeya Region have been trained on modern beekeeping and ways to get start-up capital to develop apiculture industry.

The training is part of implementation of Tuhifadhi Maliasili (Let’s Preserve Natural Resources)- a five-year activity (2021-2026) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to address threats to animal movement and biodiversity in Tanzania. 

The 10-day training was coordinated by Tanzania Development Foundation Trust (TDFT) and involved beekeepers from Sipa, Mapinga, Kambikatoto and Bitimajaga villages.

Stella James, one of the training beneficiaries from Bitimajaga village, expressed her gratitude for being trained, promising to follow all the procedures she learned to increase productivity and income.

Lucian Lazaro, a trainee from Kambikatoto village, thanked stakeholders for providing education on conservation of wetlands provided by various organizations to protect and preserve nature and wildlife.

Mathias Songo, Sipa village chairman thanked stakeholders for providing them with education on how to save money, increase income, shares and community banking.

He said that the training gave them knowledge on the importance of saving money and increasing income through the community funds and shares.

Theresia Margwe, a trainer, said the training capacitated beekeepers to form Village Community Banking (VICOBA) to enable them get loans and eventually grow their capital and businesses. 

She said apart from raising capital, the loans will also help beneficiaries buy packaging materials, have logos for registration and inspection and thus make their businesses more modern that can penetrate into regional and international markets.

Margwe urged the beekeepers to ensure that they follow procedures for conservation and care of the existing natural resources, including Rungwa, Mdaburo and Inyonga West forest reserves for the benefit of everybody because bees are a natural resource that can increase income of individuals, communities and the nation in general.

She said the main goal of the project is conservation of natural resources and increasing understanding and participation of communities in such activities.