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Experts spot `hidden enterprise` in Udzungwa Mountains
2008-04-23 09:11:24
By Beatrice Philemon
The Udzungwa Mountain National Park of south central Tanzania has an economic potential to this point not effectively unexploited, which is the beekeeping enterprise.
A team of researchers has recently discovered that the area is sufficiently colonised with high density of honeybees, though communities around the park re aware of the wealth surrounding their vicinities.
Dr Marcelian Njau of the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Dar es Salaam said recently six distinct stings-less bee species have been discovered in the study area.
Those species could produce valuable honey for both domestic and export markets as long as improved methods of beekeeping are introduced to communities living around entire ecosystem of the Udzungwa Mountains.
Those experts have suggested that the government, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism should invest in training communities living around the park on sustainable beekeeping technologies.
Well managed and scientific beekeeping can constructively contribute to conservation and management of natural resources as well.
``I am confident training will help them to improve quality and quantity of bee-products on sustainable basis and at the same time earn better incomes`` he said.
According to Dr Njau, during the study there were no viral or bacterial diseases affecting bees in the Udzungwa areas and the honey bees enemies of this area can be dealt with by physical removal of the pests or could easily be killed by preventing their access to the hives.
``Beekeeping in the Udzungwa area is a feasible enterprise for the communities adjacent to the park``, study says in part.
Udzungwa is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, rich in species concentrations of unique flora and fauna in the world; in addition it contains 30-40 percent of Tanzania plants and animals.
Beekeeping in the areas is further favoured by humidity in the air from the Indian Ocean which is forced, by the sudden change of altitude, to precipitate as rain in the mountains.
Since the prevailing wind comes from east, the mountain range constantly receives rain.
That is why researchers discovered so many trees that could host honeybee colonies, within and outside the park.
Researchers believe implementation of recent national bee keeping policy would uplift the sub-sector into one of the significant economic activity, in league to fight poverty and achieve Mkukuta goals.
Estimates show that Tanzania has 9.2million bee colonies, one of the highest in Africa.
The Udzungwa Mountains National Park covers an area of 1990 square kilometres, sprawling across Iringa and Morogoro regions of south central Tanzania.
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