Options for developing Bee honey marketing for Lushoto District, Tanzania

Abstract

This study aimed at developing bees’ honey marketing options in Lushoto district, Tanzania in order to guide beekeepers on bees honey marketing opportunities. The specific objectives were to: (i) identify and map bees honey production zones and marketing centres (ii) establish marketing options and market requirements for bees honey, (iii) match market requirements for bees honey production and marketing options, and (iv) to determine the best bees honey marketing options in the study area. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 80 beekeepers of Lushoto District and 15 traders who buy Lushoto honey residing in Lushoto town, Dar es Salaam, Coast and Morogoro regions. Data were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The quantitative methods comprised profit margin and benefit-cost analysis. Mapping honey marketing channels were done to gauge different options/alternatives for bees honey marketing. The results indicated that, prices and profit margins obtained by different actors along the honey value chain varied significantly. Retailers obtained higher profit margin (1 538 TZS) than beekeepers, assemblers and wholesalers (940, 962, and 1 247 TZS) respectively. Inadequate market information about what and when to sell explain the low profit margin for beekeepers. There were little value adding activities at local level and the packaging type mostly used by beekeepers includes 5L, 1L, 0.5L and 0.34L as most honey consumed at local level. The study revealed that, both direct and indirect marketing options are used by beekeepers. Small scale beekeepers can maximize profit from selling directly to the ultimate consumers through roads side outlets, on farm and retailing markets, while medium and large scale beekeepers can either sell direct or indirectly. It is recommended that beekeepers should utilize opportunities of markets and product ifferentiation due to current high demand for organic honey at both local and international markets.