Beekeepers in Meatu District, Simiyu Region, could harvest honey more frequently and increase production threefold under trials of plastic beehives introduced by the Friedkin Conservation Fund (FCF).
The technology, imported from Turkey, is being tested as an alternative to traditional hives made from timber, wood and metal sheets, with the potential to improve productivity while reducing practices that harm bee colonies during honey harvesting.
FCF Beekeeping Training Officer Baraka Mabula said some bee colonies had already occupied the new hives, with the organisation assessing their performance before rolling them out to more beekeepers.
“Some bee colonies have already started occupying these hives. If we establish that the technology is effective, we will start providing them to beekeepers,” Mr Mabula said.
The plastic hives are designed with temperature-control features and separate sections for bees to store honey. Their design allows honey to be harvested without using fire or significantly disturbing the colonies.
According to Mr Mabula, the technology could allow a beekeeper to harvest honey up to three times a year, compared with the current practices that can limit production.
The reduction of fire during harvesting could also help protect bee colonies and make beekeeping more environmentally sustainable.
The initiative comes as FCF expands support for beekeeping groups in communities around the Maswa Game Reserve, where honey production is increasingly being promoted as a source of income.
Presenting a report on FCF and Mwiba Holdings Ltd's community empowerment and development projects at a forum for non-governmental organisations in Meatu, Mr Mabula said FCF had supported more than 16 beekeeping groups in 2026.
The groups have 699 members, including 119 men and 244 women, according to the report presented at the forum.
The supported groups harvested 4.27 tonnes of honey during the 2025/26 season, showing the scale of production already being generated through community beekeeping initiatives.
The new technology is therefore being tested against a backdrop of existing production, with its success likely to depend on whether the hives can improve yields without creating additional costs that could discourage small-scale beekeepers.
Beyond beekeeping, FCF is supporting environmental education and life-skills programmes in schools in communities around the reserve.
Mr Mabula said 4,822 students had received environmental education through school clubs. They included 2,394 boys and 2,428 girls.
Another 2,445 students received life-skills training, comprising 775 boys and 1,670 girls.
Acting Meatu District Council Director Protas Dibogo welcomed the introduction of the plastic hives, saying the technology could help improve beekeeping in the district.
FCF is a registered foundation implementing community development programmes on behalf of Mwiba Holdings Ltd's tourism and conservation operations in communities surrounding the Maswa Game Reserve.