Dodoma – Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has called on all Tanzanians to continue safeguarding bees, emphasizing their critical role in ensuring food security and economic stability. He noted that nearly 80% of food crops worldwide rely on bees for pollination.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while officiating the closing ceremony of the World Bee Day national celebrations held at Chinangali Grounds in Dodoma.
During the event, he launched the National Beekeeping Development Plan for a Better Tanzania, known in Swahili as Achia Shoka, Kamata Mzinga a comprehensive strategy aimed at transforming the beekeeping sector across the country.
“The government is using this occasion to promote awareness and mobilize citizens to actively participate in beekeeping activities,” said Majaliwa.
“Bees play a vital role in sustaining life not only through crop pollination and food production, but also in environmental conservation and advancing sustainable development.”he added
The Prime Minister emphasized that the day serves as a reminder of the essential role bees play in our ecosystem and the urgent need to protect them from threats such as environmental degradation, harmful pesticides, climate change, and disease.
Tanzania currently produces 34,000 metric tons of honey and 1,918 metric tons of beeswax annually. These figures place the country first in honey production among East African and SADC nations, second in Africa, and 14th globally.
Ambassador Dr. Pindi Chana, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, also addressed the gathering. She said the World Bee Day celebrations offer citizens from across the country a chance to learn about opportunities within the beekeeping sector and recognize its growing economic impact.
She noted that under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s sixth-phase administration, the sector has recorded notable progress in production, quality, and innovation.
Speaking about the newly launched plan, Dr. Chana stated that it aims to increase national honey production from 34,861 to 75,000 metric tons by June 2035.
It also seeks to expand the market reach for bee products, both regionally and internationally. “Moreover, the initiative is expected to create approximately 43,000 new jobs, with a focus on empowering youth and women,” she added.
Former Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, who also attended the event, expressed his satisfaction with the positive developments in Tanzania’s beekeeping industry, particularly in terms of honey quality and packaging.
He noted that these advancements have helped Tanzanian honey perform well on global markets, contributing meaningfully to economic growth.