Assessment of Value Chain for Honey and Beeswax Initiatives in Zanzibar

Abstract

Honey and beeswax production in Zanzibar become important activities in raising livelihood income for rural communities. However, it is still difficult for the production yielded from these to contribute to fighting rural poverty. This research study is geared towards analyzing the performance and efficiency of the honey and beeswax value chain and its challenges in order to disclose opportunities and synergy for reducing income poverty to beekeepers in Zanzibar. The study conducted in Zanzibar focusing both Unguja and Pemba Island, covering two districts from each Island. Descriptive research using both qualitative and quantitative data obtained from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 120 respondents randomly and proportionally selected from beekeepers in four districts. Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews and Field visits were also conducted. Data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) versions 2016 with Excel Spread Sheet in Office 2016. The result revealed that, the major value chain activities involved were input supply, production, processing, marketing to final consumers. The actors identified were input supplier, producers, processors, traders, and consumers. The study also revealed that, majority 80.4% of beekeepers use traditional/ log hives which proved to give low yield in this study. The result also portrayed that, about 2.8% of respondents that use Langstroth hives whereas 16.0% use top bar hive It was also found that annual average yield of honey per hive types was 9.09litres from traditional/log hive, 10 liters from Top bar hives and 16.85 litres from Langstroth hives. The price of unprocessed honey ranges from TZS 20,000 to 30,000 (9 to 14 US $) per liter while processed honey is T.SH 35,000 to 40,000 (15 to 17 US$) per litre. Various challenges were identified including inadequate supply of modern hive and equipment, climate change and variability, inadequate training and extension services, deforestation and forest fire, inversion of diseases pests and predator, lack of honey processing and marketing centre as well as capital. The profitability analysis indicates that, the annual net revenue per hive is TZS 203,347(US$ 93) for traditional /log hive, TZS 227,166 (US$ 103) for Top bar hive and TZS 342,536 (US$ 156) for Langstroth hive.