Analysis of Beekeeping Rotential in Income Generation and Coastal Forest Conservation in Lindi Region, Tanzania

Coastal forests which are important for biodiversity conservation in Tanzania and tropical Africa are typically tiny and fragmented due to human disturbances. Efforts on the urgency and conservation measures to curb the rate of degradation have not yielded the desired results. The overall objective of the study was to assess the potential of beekeeping on coastal forest conservation and income generation. Specific objectives were to identify indigenous knowledge on beekeeping in the study area; to determine the art of beekeeping and honey harvesting in the study area; and investigate the contribution of beekeeping activities to income generation and forest management. Households questionnaire surveys was the main method for data collection. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used for analyzing data. Data collected through questionnaire surveys were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software. Parameters such as frequencies and percentages were subjected into MS Excel to produce figures. Data collected through PRA were analyzed with the help of the local community. It was found that indigenous knowledge includes making and using log and bark hives. Also smalholder beepers have indigenous knowledge on different types of beehives, bee smokers and honey containers. The art of beekeeping encompass identification of areas for establishing apiaries in various ecological sites for maximum production of bee products; using mixture of wax and cassava leaves (Mtondwa) as bait material for luring federal honeybee colonies when stocking hives; and using traditional smokers mwenge to subdue honeybees during harvesting. Income is generated from beekeeping activities through selling honey and beeswax. The maximum price of strained honey was Tshs 3,000 per litre and average ranged from Tshs 800to Tshs 1800 per litre. Nevertheless, in larger towns like Morogoro and Dare es Salaam, the maximum domestic selling price of strained honey ranged from Tshs 4500 to Tshs 5000 per litre. Beekeeping is very useful and important for forest resource management. This is because where beekeepers have put their beehives they protect and avoid bush fires, and they discourage people to cut timber, poles and other forest related resources. It is concluded that if properly promoted, beekeeping have potential contribution in income generation and coastal forests conservation. It is recommended that development partners should fund a research to ascertain ways of improving production, processing, packaging and marketing of bee products.