Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian beekeeper Philemon Kiemi on Friday, May 19, met Tanzania’s ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Gaudence Milanzi, and discussed the possibility of opening offices and factories for honey and other bee products in the cities of Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, in the process providing local farmers with a guaranteed market.
Mr. Kiemi is the owner and founder of Kijiji Cha Nyuki Company, based in the Singida region, which keeps bees and produces various products, including bee pollen, which is in great demand across the world.
The company also provides modern training to local and foreign beekeepers.
Speaking to The Citizen, Mr. Kiemi said the talks with the envoy have reached an advanced stage following the company's visit to South Africa.
"In our conversation, we told the ambassador about the commercial opportunities available to Tanzanians in expanding the scope of markets between these two countries, and he promised us that his office would provide all the support that we need," he emphasised.
Mr. Kiemi added that the company is ready to expand its business in South Africa and large commercial cities because there is a big challenge in the local market, especially with the price of honey.
He said currently the price of honey per kilo is between Sh4,000 and Sh10, 000, which is quite paltry compared to the South African market where it fetches between Sh22, 000 and Sh45, 000 per kilo.
According to him, should the company set up an office in South Africa, it will make it easier for Tanzanian producers to increase production in accordance with all international standards.
Basically, bee products, especially Tanzanian honey, have a large market in South Africa, and the demand is high.
Currently, the company is exporting bee products to Rwanda and Kenya, with South Africa set to become the third African country.
Kijiji Cha Nyuki has the capacity to produce 400 modern hives per day, and the plan is to reach 1200 bee hives
