Honey output rises to 500 tonnes
Tanzanian honey producer Central Park Bees has increased its annual output to 500 tonnes through a partnership with the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank. The company utilizes a 'borrow a beehive' model to support small-scale farmers and is now targeting international export markets.
Why it matters
It demonstrates how targeted agricultural financing and innovative business models can scale rural production and improve livelihoods.
DODOMA: A Tanzanian youth-owned honey business has raised annual production from 350 tonnes to 500 tonnes after expanding its operations with support from the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), and is now targeting an ambitious 1,500 tonnes a year.
Central Park Bees, which markets its products under the Swahili Honey brand, now works with more than 3,000 beekeepers organised into 30 groups across eight regions.
The expansion has taken the company from a four-region operation to a national network stretching across Dodoma, Iringa, Njombe, Geita, Tabora, Singida, Shinyanga and Kagera.
Central Park Bees Operations Manager Elinenyi Robert said access to financing and capacity building had helped transform the scale of the business.
“Before the support, production stood at 350 tonnes a year. It has now reached 500 tonnes, and our next target is 1,500 tonnes,” he said.
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