Abstract:
This study aimed at analyzing the value chain for traditionally produced honey and
identifying the most profitable value-adding activity practiced by traditional
beekeepers. Specifically, the study intended (i) to analyze the value chain for
traditionally produced honey in Kongwa district, (ii) to determine the contribution of
honey to traditional beekeeper’s household income, (iii) to analyse costs and returns
from honey value-adding activities in order to identify the most profitable value-
adding activity, and (iv) to identify constraints limiting value addition to honey
produced traditionally and recommend strategies to improve the position of
traditional beekeepers in the value chain. Data were collected using a semi-structured
questionnaire administered to 120 beekeepers randomly selected from four villages
in Kongwa district. The results indicate that there is a great potential of honey
production in Dodoma region if constraints such as access to reliable markets, lack of
knowledge on value addition and poor harvesting equipments are removed.
Furthermore, beekeeping was found to contribute about 44% to the income of the
sampled households. Three major value adding activities undertaken by the
traditional beekeepers are filtering, packaging and quality-testing. Profitability
analysis indicates a significant difference in revenue accrued from unprocessed
honey and value-added honey through filtering, packaging and quality-testing.
Filtering without quality testing and packaging was found to be the most profitable
value-adding activity as it yielded higher net revenue than when accompanied by
packaging and quality testing. However, unprocessed honey is mainly demanded
locally for making local beer. Individual beekeepers cannot access urban, regionaliii
and international markets without adding value to their honey. It is recommended
that interventions to promote beekeeping should focus on encouraging formation of
marketing associations, modern beekeeping equipments use, imparting knowledge
and skills on appropriate beekeeping, post harvest technologies and local production
of cheap honey-packaging materials to encourage value addition.
