The new Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI) board has been challenged to find practical solutions to forest fires and costly honey testing, two issues affecting conservation and the country’s ability to compete in export markets.
Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hamad Hassan Chande said yesterday that the board should ensure scientific research conducted by TAFORI directly addresses challenges facing the forestry and beekeeping sectors.
He made the remarks in Morogoro during the inauguration of TAFORI’s 13th Board of Directors, which is responsible for overseeing the institute’s operations and supporting the implementation of national forestry and beekeeping policies.
Mr Chande said forest fires remained a major challenge because they damage vegetation and undermine efforts to expand forest cover, while fires in protected areas could also interfere with tourism activities.
“Stakeholders in forestry and beekeeping are facing challenges that require solutions,” he said.
He directed the board to prioritise research that can improve early detection and reporting of forest fires, saying the country needed practical technologies that could help authorities respond before fires cause extensive damage.
The directive comes as Tanzania seeks to balance conservation with the economic use of forest resources, including tourism and beekeeping.
Mr Chande also highlighted the cost of laboratory testing as a constraint on Tanzania’s honey exports.
He said the country has opportunities in overseas markets, particularly Europe, but exporters are required to provide laboratory evidence confirming the safety and quality of their honey.
At present, some samples are sent abroad for testing, increasing costs for producers and exporters.
“We need to ensure honey samples are tested in laboratories available in the country to reduce costs and strengthen our competitiveness in the international honey market,” he said.
The minister’s call puts greater emphasis on TAFORI’s research role in supporting commercial beekeeping, rather than limiting its work to scientific studies.
Reliable local testing could reduce expenses for producers while making it easier for exporters to meet requirements in foreign markets, particularly where food safety certification is mandatory.
Mr Chande also instructed the board to closely supervise implementation of TAFORI’s five-year strategic plan for 2026/27-2030/31 and ensure its activities support the objectives of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050.
He said the board should strengthen accountability and discipline among employees and advise the ministry on ways of securing adequate financial resources, skilled personnel and equipment for strategic research.
The board was also urged to promote innovation and expand partnerships with local and international institutions to conduct research and ensure findings are translated into technologies and solutions that can be used by communities and businesses.
TAFORI is mandated to coordinate forestry research and provide technical advice on sustainable forest management, beekeeping and the use of appropriate technologies.
The effectiveness of the new board will therefore be measured not only by the research produced by the institute but also by how far that research helps address practical problems affecting forests, beekeepers and businesses.