Tanzania: Bee Stakeholders Head To Singida Region For This Year’s World Bee Day

By Prosper Makene

The government of Tanzania has challenged all stakeholders in the beekeeping sector to turn out in multitude to observe this year's World Bee Day, the vital event for the metamorphosis of the apiculture sector in the country.

Drafted from May 18 to 21 in Singida region, the envisaged event will serve as a crucial podium for the government to team up with the potential stakeholders in the beekeeping sector to hatch and set viable measures for the development of the key economic sector in the country.

Acting Assistant Director of Beekeeping Development from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Daniel Pancras, yesterday told this publication that among others, the four- day event will be used to raise awareness over the importance of adopting pollinator-friendly agricultural production practices to protect bees and other pollinators, while contributing to the resilience, sustainability and efficiency of agrifood systems.

"We are cooperating with the office of the Regional Commissioner of Singida and the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) to organise the World Bee Day celebration, basically, the day is globally cerebrated on May 20 of every year, but as a country, this celebration will start from May 18 to May 21, " he said.

To be held under the theme of 'Let's protect the bees for the safety of the environment and food' he noted that the event is projected to  bear fruitful results for the effective development of the sector among the involved players as well as the country in a whole.

Giving more details, director Pancras stated that during the envisaged event there'will be various topics that will be discussed, including looking at the best way to care for and process bee products, saying various stakeholders have already confirmed their participation.

On his part, the Assistant Administrative Secretary for the Economy of the Singida Region, Stanslaus Choaji said that the preparations for the celebration was continuing to take good shape while asking the people of the region to come out in large numbers.

World Bee Day is observed across the world on May 20 whereby in the day, diverse beekeeping events are usually held with an eye to educate the general public about the importance of bees and beekeeping.

There is a special emphasis on the role of bees as pollinators and how they help to revive forest cover. Because the bee population is under threat, World Bee Day dwells to informs  how to protect bees and others.

Statistics shows that Tanzania stands 14th country for beekeeping in the world and 2nd in Africa with an estimated to capacity of producing at least 138,000tons of honey and 9,200tons of beeswax per year.