By Saidi Lufune, Katavi
Beekeepers in Mlele District, Katavi Region, have been urged to take full advantage of grants from the Tanzania Forest Fund (TaFF) to expand their honey production projects and increase household incomes.
The call was made on October 16, 2025, in Inyonga Village by Acting Chief Executive Officer of TaFF, Dr. Tuli Msuya, during a field visit to monitor the implementation of TaFF-funded projects and assess challenges facing local beekeepers.
Dr. Msuya noted that, despite Mlele’s rich miombo forests and access to a local honey processing and packaging factory, uptake of TaFF grants has been low compared to Tanganyika District.
“Mlele has the largest number of beekeepers in Katavi, yet only five groups have received TaFF funding, compared to more than 20 groups in Tanganyika,” he said.
Inyonga Village Executive Officer, Mahala Bikura, pledged to encourage residents to fully utilize the funding while ensuring careful management of beneficiaries to make projects sustainable and impactful for both the community and the nation.
Ernest Kanumba, Chairperson of the E2CAD Group, which received a Sh9.31 million TaFF grant, expressed gratitude for the support, saying it enabled them to purchase 82 modern beehives and advanced equipment.
“TaFF has transformed our work. Before, we used traditional hives with low yields. Now, our honey production has increased significantly. Many of us have shifted entirely to beekeeping, which protects forests and provides a steady income,” Kanumba said.