About us

INTRODUCTION OF US

A Network of Beekeepers Organization

Tanzania Apiculture Development Support Organization (Api-Support), is a network of beekeepers’ organizations, bee products traders, processors and experts in various areas in the beekeeping value chain. Api-Support was since 2009 operating as Tanzania Honey Council, a non-profit entity, registered as Company Limited by guarantee.

On 10th September 2021 the organization had to undergo re-registration under NGO Act 2002, as the amended Companies Act (THE WRITTEN LAWS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) (NO.3) ACT, 2019) required. In the process the name had to be changed. The network provides a forum for capacity building, exchange of knowledge, lobbying, advocacy and communication across beekeeping stakeholders in Tanzania. Api-Support members are existing in all regions of Tanzania where beekeeping is practiced.

MISSION & VISION

Our Mission & Vision

Vision

Quality and sustainable beekeeping for all humanities.

Mission

To support empowerment of members for growth and improvement of the beekeeping industry in Tanzania.

Api-Support

Making a Positive Impact

Core Values

Objectives

Promote production of diverse bee products
Promote market of bee products
Facilitate safety & quality of bee products
Advocate, defend and protect the interest of beekeeping industry stakeholders in Tanzania
Promote Smart climate change beekeeping
Promote Capacity building to stakeholders across the Beekeeping Value chain
Promote and assist support to widows, orphans, poor and marginalized groups on Beekeeping sector
Promote self-reliance financially
Promote Forest ecosystem conservation

Historical Background

Forming Api-Support was not an overnight achievement; it was a process which occurred over years. Several steps were taken by stakeholders starting from consultation, analysis of the subsector’s situation and formation of recommendations which upon consideration resulted into establishment of the Organization.

Beekeeping Sector Organization Ssituation

In the past, the beekeeping subsector had been organized and the development was coordinated by the government and donors. Beekeepers’ organizations were established that supported the small beekeepers. One such organization was the Tabora Beekeepers Cooperative Society (TBCS) with membership spanning throughout the Tabora region and parts of Mbeya and Rukwa regions. However, due to failure in managing some trade challenges, TBCS collapsed in 2005. This had a dire consequence on the organization of the sector. It was only recently, that efforts have gained speed to revive the cooperatives under the banner of the newly registered Association of Tanzania Beekeepers Cooperative Unions and several primary cooperative unions.

In the absence of the cooperative or other forms of organization, the sector witnessed a rapid decline into an unorganized disenfranchised situation where any and every player used their own preferred methods of beekeeping, harvesting, processing and marketing. All the past efforts at improving production and productivity through the use of better technology, and at ensuring quality and improving revenues through collective processing and marketing, were lost. So were the efforts at standardization of the beekeeping processes and marketing.

Early Intervention to Organize the Sub Sector

A value chain analysis (VCA) was conducted by Match Makers in 2007 and observed that the national level organization of the beekeeping sector was weak. Many different initiatives by different organizations in different part of the country were being undertaken. However, there was little networking, hardly any rolling out of pilot projects, nor any concerted effort at bringing together the individual beekeepers and traders into groups and/or associations that would add value in terms of bulking, marketing and lobbying. The report further observed that organization of the sector was necessary for a number of issues which included improvement of productivity, traceability and quality assurances, marketing and lobbying.

The VCA report therefore, recommended that “What was definitely needed is a widely represented policy dialogue body spearheaded by a Honey Council as a local institutional framework. The Council could ensure participation of public-private and civil organizations that are involved in the beekeeping sector. It could also act as a dialogue partner with government on policy development and implementation issues”

Way back in 2005 in a workshop on “Enhancing Self-Understanding and Interaction among Stakeholders in the Honey Value Chain in Tanzania” sponsored by SIDA & CDE, an observation was made that: “Unless the sector was organized, it was difficult and costly to talk about improving the value chain competitiveness as most of the chain links were not clear; where they can be defined they are relatively weak. Information flow was not streamlined, trust among stakeholders was very low and among traders, business was all about competition and none about networking/alliance.”

As a way forward, the workshop proposed that steps should be taken led by the private sector, to look into how the sector could be organized, and that; “An organization (network, alliance, association, NGO, etc.) be formed that will spearhead the development of the sector including providing input to legal and policy frameworks, ownership of the sector development process, dialogue, market development, R&D, and representation of the sector in local and international arena.”

Api Support

Let’s celebrate these incredible insects and their vital role in ensuring food sustainability!

Formation of Early Organized Entities

A private company, National Honey Show Limited (NHS), established in 2006, took the initiative to organize the sector in terms of marketing and trade promotion. It successfully organized two National Honey Shows in Dodoma in 2006 and 2007.

Formation of Api-Support

During the National Honey Show in 2007, stakeholders agreed to establish an apex body that will coordinate the public – private efforts towards developing the sector, and to organize an annual honey event that is owned by all stakeholders. As a result, the Honey Partners’ Forum (HPF) was formed. After careful legal consultation, HPF was registered under Companies Act as a non-profit entity, a Company Limited by guarantee and having no share capital. The name was Tanzania Honey Council (THC), which has now become the Tanzania Apiculture Development Support Organization (Api-Support).

Chellenges

The successes realized by Api-Support are largely the results of self-support and working voluntarily and sacrificially by Board members. However, despite the successes, Api-Support has passed and is still experiencing many challenges. The following are some of the challenging faced by Api-Support.

Lack of enough resources: Majority of members do not pay their subscription fee. It is therefore that, Api-Support lacks enough resource to run its intended operations. Although Api-Support has been receiving some funds from development partners, the funds are budgeted for specific activities for that particular project. Limitation in resources leads to reduced ability of Api-Support to operationalize its strategic plan and serve the industry as well as its members, majority of which are rural beekeepers.
Limited awareness by stakeholders on the importance of the organization: Value chain actors have little awareness on the importance of coming together into a strong private organization to organize the sector for effective marketing, advocacy, lobbying and other facilitation. It is therefore that majority of key stakeholders are left out. This situation denies the organization of financial as well as human resources for the advancement of the organization.
General sector challenges: Challenges of the beekeeping industry in Tanzania are equally the challenges of the organization having direct and indirect effects. The use of outdated technology in beekeeping leading to low and in many cases less quality products, inconsistent data, few research, few extension officers, majority of dealers lacking quality and standard certifications. Other serious challenges include but not limited to climate change; substantially affecting production and loss of bee fodders as a result of human caused degradation of natural vegetation and bees habitats.