THE government established six major bee product processing factories between 2021 and 2024 as part of its strategic plan to boost Tanzania’s apiculture sector and strengthen its value chain.

The factories, located in Nzega, Sikonge, Bukombe, Kibondo, Mlele and Tabora, aim to expand markets for local beekeepers while enhancing value addition and product quality, according to Hussein Msuya, Assistant Commissioner for Beekeeping at the Tanzania Forestry Service (TFS).

“The government focused on making beekeeping a viable economic activity generating employment, improving household incomes, protecting the environment and enhancing public health through nutritional and medicinal benefits of bee products,” he said in an interview recently.

He said the initiatives are part of broader government efforts to transform beekeeping into a key contributor to the national economy. In addition to public investment, Msuya commended the private sector for its growing involvement, citing several honey processing plants established across the country.

The plants include Central Park Bee in Dodoma, Honey Care Africa and Asilia Afrika in Dar es Salaam, Upendo Honey in Kigoma, Deniza Food Processing in Dodoma, Kijiji cha Nyuki in Singida and Afrilife in Kahama.

Msuya added that alongside the six major factories, 64 small-scale honey processing units have been established in various regions, offering local beekeepers more reliable market access.

“The smaller plants play a vital role in connecting beekeepers to processing centres, enabling them to fetch better prices and reduce post-harvest losses,” he said.

Tanzania now produces at least 97 different brands of honey, solidifying its position as a regional and emerging global player in honey production.

“The growth of the factories boost the value of bee products, improve livelihoods and reinforce the role of apiculture in national development,” he noted, adding that the government continues to promote further investment in the sector.

Official records show that Tanzania earned a total of 69.1bn/- from exporting 6,016.67 tonnes of honey between 2021 and 2024—averaging 1,504.17 tonnes annually. Additionally, the country exported 2,410.81 tonnes of beeswax valued at 40bn/-during the same period.