News written by Lydia Mawala

 THE NATIONAL HONEY SHOW PARTICIPATES FOR FIRST TIME AT DAR ES SALAAM INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

The parallel exhibitions Dar Es Salaam International Trade Fair and Honey Pavilion got off to a great start at the Saba Saba Fair ground from 28^th June -8^th July 2007

The acceptance of the new location at the fair ground gave visitor the chance of visiting our pavilion. The growing importance of the honey sector for Tanzania is underlined by the fact that the million dollar mark is expected to be reached by the end of the year. The beekeepers in The National Honey Show pavilion were very satisfied with the visiting professionals and the lively interest in their products.

Many exhibitors rated the move of The National Honey Show participation this year Saba Saba favourably: The Board of External Trade has the right capacities to offers a suitable environment for further successful development of the honey sub- sector, was the tenor. “This is the business location in Dar es Salaam where everything is marketed from all over the country.”

On the platform at the official opening ceremony were 200 top personalities from politics and industry. The President of Mozambique officially opened the Fair. He stressed the traditionally close economic relationships between Tanzania and Mozambique and hoped this would also be the case for organic honey trade in the future. The Mozambique Ambassador in Tanzania Ho. Amour Kupelo promised to invite the beekeepers from Mozambique to participate the second honey show in Dodoma. CEO of the National Microfinance, Mr. Ben Christiaanse, said through  The National Honey Show Limited has an intensive interest in supporting small bee-farmers and small and medium enterprises.

David Camara, the General Secretary of The National Honey Show Limited, had good news about the economic success of the honey sub- sector. He estimated the export volume for bee products to date at 770,000.00 US dollars. “We want to reach the million mark by the end of the year,” he said at the welcoming the visitors at the Honey Show pavilion. The possibility of now recording the figures separately allows a precise evaluation, which is a further step towards professionalism in trade, marketing, and quality assurance. A directive issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in June 2007 enables reliable guidelines for quality Assurance of Honey Bee products in Tanzania for honey exports to be recorded for the first time. Although the above-average growth of the honey sub- sector has already been shown by expert assessments for some years,

In his detailed opening speech, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Marketing emphasized the eminent importance of the beekeeping sector for Tanzania. He defined sustainability and environmental compatibility as two of the most important guidelines for Beekeeping policy. These aims fit in exceptionally well with the beekeeping industry, whose philosophy is based on achieving a balance between ecology, social aspects and economic targets. The context also provided a suitable setting for the 2^ndNational Honey Show in Dodoma.

The NHSL participated this year Saba Saba for the first time as part of advertising the second National Honey Show in Dodoma. Also interested in beekeeping are a growing number of classic producers, who wish to make a contribution to the environment and the fight against poverty on the one hand, and on the other have recognized that the honey sub- sector has developed into a lucrative market that allows both aspects.

The Honey Pavilion, the National Honey Show Limited’s official participation at 31^st DITF, impressed as one of the natural food stands with its attractive architecture and inviting Meeting Point in a highly frequented position. The nine-beekeeping groups and five companies were extremely satisfied with the response from the visitors at the exhibition. The exhibitors, most of them newcomers to The National Honey Show, had very different motives: Their objectives ranged from sounding out the market, making initial contact and determining export prospects to customer care and advice. The product spectrum ranged from, honey, milk, bread and beeswax products, and services such as consulting. Everyone praised the good organization and the service in the pavilion. Hon. Trijono Marjono, Ambassador of Indonesia in Tanzania: “The stand is excellently organized. Ms. Juniper Neill from the USAID, a team leader on Natural Resources was impressed and promised to attend the next honey show in Dodoma

The committed environment and the uncomplicated manner of the Tanzania beekeepers make exhibiting a pleasure.” They were amazed by the unexpectedly large interest and the specific inquiries from importers and consumers. The Manager of SME Competitiveness Facility Mr. Sosthenes Sambua recommended Honey Show pavilion for showing professionalism in displaying the bee products.

Ms. Caroline THULLTEZ from Adepta in France, who was present as a visitor at the France Embassy in Dar Es Salaam, encouraged the exhibitors to use the great experience of the National Honey Show. He also emphasized the excellent prospects for the organic honey in France. He described France as open, uncomplicated, and friendly business partners.

The success of The National Honey Show speaks for itself. The exhibitors’ statements confirm the very positive climate for the organic industry in Tanzania. Reason enough for organic food and natural product companies interested in export to think about exhibiting in the National Honey pavilion. The date of the next NATIONAL HONEY SHOW is already fixed and the event takes place in Dodoma 27^th -29^th September 2007.

Most of the foreign visitors were requesting for  royal jelly (Queen Feed) which is difficult to obtain by using traditional. Another challenge is on packaging material used, where by some visitors requested spraying bottle and squeeze bottle. Although honey production is an important source of supplementary income for people in Tanzania, hives are made locally from hollow hardwood logs instead of modern hives. Honey as a product needs clear information on its labeling on types of vegetation which the bee collected the nectars and the expired date.