Africa-Press – Tanzania. The government eyes to establish two honey processing plants in Itigi District, Singida Region aimed at increasing productivity and value addition to honey production.
The Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, Administration and Human Resource Development Director, Mr Edward Nkembo said the two honey processing plants worth 150m/- are funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) project phase II.
“The establishment of the honey processing plants at Mwamagembe and Itigi wards in Itigi District Singida will enable entrepreneurs to access high quality honey products that can easily fetch premium market value within and outside the country,” he said.
He said the training aimed at building capacity to small and medium entrepreneurs for value addition on honey products in Singida Region, palm in Kigoma, vegetables and fruits in Mara and Simiyu Regions as well as Tanzania Islands for seaweed and seafood crops.
“I urge entrepreneurs who attended this training in value addition to honey products to share skills with your fellow entrepreneurs to boost individual income and contribute to the growth of the country’s economy,” said Nkembo.
Initially outlining the implementation of the capacity building project for small and medium entrepreneurs, the EIF Tier II Acting Coordinator and Project Manager from the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, Ms Natasha Ngowi said the training aimed at educating entrepreneurs on how to process honey products as well as add value to other bee products.
“Another goal of this project is to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises to reach local and international markets, reduce poverty and provide employment to women and youth,” said Ms Ngowi.
Ms Ngowi said the project was funded by the World Trade Organization (WTO) through the EIF in partnership with UNDP and the Tanzania government.
She said the three-year funding would be implemented in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
The Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) Singida Region Manager, Ms Agness Yesaya said the main task of the SIDO Singida Region is to build the capacity of entrepreneurs by providing them with technology, training and ensuring they add value to their products as well as the assurance of access to packaging that will be accepted to the global market.
For his part, the Vice Chairman of Itigi District Council Mr Jonathan Dulle said the construction of the honey processing plants will increase revenue to the councils and the government as a whole due to the levy that will be charged on honey and wax products including an increase of employment and individual income.
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