EU Rolls Out 43m/- Worth Motorcycles To Boost Beekeeping Ventures In Zanzibar’s Archipelago -

By
Valentine Oforo, Pemba

THE
Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock in
Zanzibar have handed over five motorcycles to the four district forestry
officers and their supervisor in Pemba.

Worth
over 43m/-, the support which has freely been donated by the Belgian
Development Agency (Enabel) through the European Union (EU)’s funded Beekeeping
Value Chain Support (BEVAC) project targets to heighten performance of the agriculture sector in the Tanzania’s famous Archipelago of Zanzibar.

The
BEVAC project aims to improve the beekeeping value chain through enhanced
quality production, value addition of bee products and strengthened trade and
access to local, regional, and international markets.

Speaking
yesterday during a colorful event tailored for the official handing over of the
support, held at the Chamanangwe open grounds in Pemba district, the Director
of Planning, Policy and Research at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation,
Natural Resources and Livestock in Zanzibar, Mr Makame Kitwana Makame said the
donated support would play pivotal role to help fast tracking beekeeping value
chain initiatives in Pemba Isle.

“We’re
looking forward that, through these modern motorcycles, the forestry officers
within the four beneficiary districts will stand a more professional side to
execute their daily roles pertaining to the general improvement of the
beekeeping sector,” he added.

Similarly,
he challenged the officers to make proper and fruitful use of the transportation
facilities in order to assure the much-needed end-results are attained.

Speaking
for his part, the BEVAC project’s Cluster Coordinator in Pemba, Juma Omar
Abdalla, apart from expressing delight for the timely support, said the
motorcycles will facilitate the smooth dispensation of extension services in
the sector within all Pemba districts.

According
to the BEVAC’s Manager, Martin Mgallah, the timely initiative is being
implemented in six regions of Katavi, Kigoma, Tabora, Shinyanga and Singida in
Tanzania mainland as well as Pemba in the islands of Zanzibar.

The
robust project, BEVAC, is being implemented by Enabel, the Belgian Development
Agency under the coordination of the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources
for Mainland and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and
Livestock in Zanzibar.

Recently,
the project also distributed at least 15 motorcycles to help heighten the
performance of beekeeping sector within 15 districts across the Tanzania Mainland.