At national level there were calls for curbing of bush fires and illegal fishing using chemicals, beach seine nets-kororo and dynamites that is greatly contributing to depletion of marine life and biodiversity.

Envirocare participated in sensitizing the public on the need for greater integration of environmental concerns to include conserving water resources, planting and nurturing of trees, and abiding by all environment related rules and regulations.

However, in West Kilimanjaro, the day was dedicated to beekeeping and for the beekeepers in for Siha and Hai, it was “Christmas come early.”  There has been much effort in building Beekeeping as a sector in Tanzania. 

Envirocare has engaged in advocating for beekeeping promotion and development with many of our project efforts focused on assisting and encouraging communities to protect their forest resources and reduce vulnerabilities to poverty through developing economic, social and environmental opportunities in forestry.

And it’s against this background that in 2008 Envirocare through a HIVOS funded project in RURAL Moshi engaged in mobilizing and sensitizing beekeepers and other stakeholders, on the potential of raising their incomes through sustainable beekeeping.

In addition to this, training was extended to individual beekeepers and beekeeping groups in Siha and Hai Districts on hive management and inspection, production of organic honey, quality control and assurance, honey harvesting, processing and marketing, labelling, packaging and storage and the importance of bees in organic farming.

Furthermore, beekeepers were trained on production of different bee products such as propolis extract, bread, cake, candles. This was organized and facilitated by a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) expert

Many of the Siha and Hai beekeepers were looking for alternative income generating activity to improve their livelihoods and in their endeavors there were inspired to start keeping bees. Many started with a few hives and found out the possibility of earning more and hence got the idea of establishing beekeeping groups as a means to increase their productivity and their income.

After getting beekeeping training and integrating various ideas and groups started to keep bees using modern technology and environmental conservation. One such is the HABECO Beekeepers Co-operative under the chairmanship of Mr. Mmari. 

HABECO Beekeepers Co-operative comprises of 9 smaller beekeeping groups (Vikundi Vya Asali) specifically Kiwaneo, Kyasama, Naibilie, Mpingo Women Group, Mafeeto, Kileo Family, Ng’uni, Juhudi, Shuki. That all engage in beekeeping in the west Kilimanjaro Forest and it is these groups that had plenty to smile about on National Environmental Day.

Envirocare purchased and distributed a total of 264 modern beehives-214 modern sting beehives from Tanzania Wildlife Research Centre-Arusha and 50 stingless beehives with honey. The hives were given to the groups which registered and signed agreements to comply to organic farming practices.
“Buying the equipment necessary for maximum production of honey is not easy,” says Mr. MMari chairman HABECO Beekeeper Cooperative.

He says that most of the bee-keepers in kilimanjaro were still using the traditional log hives, while others use traditional improved hives commonly called the top bar due to lack resources to acquire better equipment.

In addition to this, given the importance of protecting themselves against the stings of bees, wasps and hornets and in support of environment friendly harvesting as opposed to the environmentally distractive practices which were formerly being used by some members of the cooperatives such as burning off bees before harvesting due to lack of protective gear, through HIVOS support beekeepers were provided with full bodysuit. Specifically most of the farmers received protective gears, honey press, bee smoker and refract meter tester for honey

The Siha and Hai beekeeping groups have registered great achievements and indeed are now serving as an example to surrounding communities.To date the Moshi Rural project has recorded the following successes

Through the cohesive unity of the groups, individual group members have been able to establish their own pet projects such as tree planting and beekeeping the number of Hives per beekeeper has increased

The groups are now engaging in educating the surrounding communities on the importance of environmental conservation and prevention against HIV/AIDS.

Each member of the groups is able to process practical bee products such as honey and beewax the groups harvest several bee products from the bee colonies they keep such as: honey, beeswax, pollen.

Apart from honey and wax, farmers now are harvesting something useful to health though formerly ignored. It is called propolis and are integrating knowledge acquired with indigenous experienced to produce various medicines from bee products

The groups have also achieved environmental conservation by planting multipurpose trees
Envirocare presently is conducting a project with cooperative members in Shia to transfer skills to HIV/AIDS victims in bee hive making, honey production and use of products for medicinal purposes to improve their health, generate income and conserve the environment.

Towards promoting trade in honey and other bee products from Tanzania Envirocare remains committed to help beekeepers explore and access markets for their products both inside and outside the country. To this end, Envirocare is working with the beekeepers to apply for a certificate from the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS).