Honey value chain development in Ruvuma region, Tanzania

Dissertation

Despite having a few number of studies conducted in Ruvuma on beekeeping, in-depth assessment of entire honey value chain is lacking. This study assessed honey value chain development in Ruvuma region, using Songea and Nyasa districts as study areas. The study mapped actors along the value chain, determined nodes’ profitability, assessed the business environment of the value chain and honey production trend in the study area. A sample of 16 groups of producers, 22 individual producers, 24 traders and 3 industries were selected randomly for this study. Questionnaires, checklists and interviews were the main primary data collection methods. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis, Value Chain Analysis (VCA) and Gross Margin Analysis. In this study three actors were determined; producers, traders and consumers. The results showed two distribution channels; 92% sold their honey to local customers in the village and 16% sold their honey to traders. Honey was mainly consumed locally, this was due to lack of market information to the actors. Several business environment components such as rules and regulations, custom and norms, transportation and supporting functions were assessed. Three governmental and one non-governmental supporting functions were identified in the study area namely; Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), Small Industry Development Organization (SIDO), Tanzania Forest Fund (TAFF) and Caritas. The Gross Market Margin of individual producers was 11% and group producers was -22% which was lower compared to that of traders 43%. This implies that producers had higher costs of production compared to the traders. In order for producers to maximize their profits, there should be an improvement in quantity and quality of honey produced as well as the expansion of markets.

Forestry and Value Chains Development programme (FORVAC)