Tabora. Seven countries have gathered in Tabora Region for a four-day second regional meeting to discuss and share experiences in beekeeping, agroforestry and forest conservation.
Speaking on Monday, November 9, 2026, during the official opening of the meeting, the Director of Administration and Human Resources Management at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Bernard Patrick, who represented the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, said Tabora was selected because of its rich Miombo woodland resources.
Tabora is endowed with extensive forests dominated by Miombo trees, which are recognised for their contribution to high-quality honey production in Africa and internationally.
The resources have attracted other countries interested in learning more about the honey industry.
Mr Patrick said Tanzania had extensive experience in modern beekeeping practices and honey production, making it an important destination for other countries seeking to learn from its expertise.
The seven participating countries are Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania, which is hosting the four-day meeting.
He further revealed that Tanzania produces approximately 73.72 million kilogrammes of honey, with Tabora and Katavi regions contributing significantly to national production compared with other regions.
This is largely attributed to the extensive Miombo woodlands found in the two regions.
“We recognise that although Tanzania has considerable experience in beekeeping and the production of quality honey, Tabora and Katavi are among the regions contributing significantly to this production because of the availability of these woodlands,” he said.
The acting director of Forest Resources and coordinator of the Sustainable Beekeeping and Agroforestry Project in Tanzania, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Dr Zainabu Bungwa, said the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) manages 465 forest reserves across the country.
She said the country’s strong forest management system had generated significant benefits and attracted other countries interested in learning from Tanzania’s experience.
“Tanzania is doing well in this sector, which is why many countries are coming to learn from us. We will continue improving through increased community awareness and understanding that forests are valuable economic opportunities,” she said.
A participant from Namibia, Ms Anastazia Katobela, said the meeting would help her learn how to better exploit opportunities arising from bee products, including making candles from beeswax and improving honey storage methods to preserve its quality.
“I will continue learning many more things. I have realised that beekeeping offers numerous opportunities, is environmentally friendly and contributes to income generation,” she said.
Her Zimbabwean counterpart, Mr Edward Samwel, said his country also produced large quantities of honey, but the meeting would help him understand why Tanzania performed better in the sector.
He said one of the key lessons he had already identified was the importance of adopting proper beekeeping practices and following appropriate procedures when harvesting bee products.
“The major lesson I have already learnt is that Tanzania places great emphasis on proper beekeeping practices and the right methods of harvesting bee products,” said Mr Samwel.
Tabora Region is home to several tourist attractions, including the Ugalla River and various museums.
Participants have been encouraged to explore these attractions and other destinations across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, as every part of the country offers unique tourism experiences.