Women's Beekeeping group achieves remarkable milestones
26 March 2025
The SAHHTI Women's Beekeeping Group in Kitete, Tanzania, has made significant progress in their beekeeping enterprise, showcasing their dedication and hard work. After completing their Introduction to Beekeeping Training, the women officially registering their group with the district government. This training empowered the women with knowledge on constitution writing, group leadership, governance, and policy interpretation, laying a strong foundation for a sustainable and successful enterprise.
The group advanced their beekeeping skills through practical apiary and beehive inspections, hosted by the neighboring NARI women's group in Upper Kitete. Under the guidance of Upendo, the Beekeeping Officer, the trainees learned to identify brood patterns, pests, diseases, queen behavior, and food storage. This hands-on experience allowed the women to assess the health and productivity of the colonies and make recommendations for improvement.
The group also discussed management procedures, creating timetables, schedules, and responsibilities for hive and apiary management. Their goal is to achieve sustainable, profitable honey and wax production while boosting pollination and supporting farmer beehive fences.
In the next phase, the group completed a land assessment for their Beekeeping Apiary installation site. The chosen site, which borders Kitete village land and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, met the highest criteria for suitability. With the agreement in place, construction of the apiary began, and within two weeks, four Langstroth beehives were already occupied. The women are now equipped with bee suits and an apiary management plan, with ongoing training and bi-monthly inspections to ensure the success of their beekeeping enterprise.
The achievements of the SAHHTI Women's Beekeeping Group highlight their resilience, dedication, and commitment to creating a sustainable and profitable enterprise, empowering women in their community and contributing to environmental conservation.
