Hassan Magulumali
Bhutanese Parliamentarian Tashi Tenzin has praised the quality of Tanzania’s honey and other bee products displayed at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism pavilion during the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU 153) in Arusha.
Tenzin said he was impressed by the quality of the products, particularly the natural honey, which he described as meeting international standards without the addition of other substances.
“Congratulations on the quality products. It is not common to find honey that has not been mixed with anything else. This is a positive step and shows that Tanzania pays attention to standards in its products,” he said.
The Bhutanese lawmaker said the quality of the honey demonstrated the level of expertise, equipment and modern technologies being applied in Tanzania’s beekeeping sector, adding that he was interested in learning from the country’s experience.
He also praised Tanzania’s position as one of Africa’s major honey-producing countries, referring to 2024 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data showing Tanzania among the continent’s leading honey producers.
“Your products have international quality. I also want to learn the methods you have used to reach this level. I will return to your pavilion to gain more experience,” Tenzin said.
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The recognition comes as Tanzania seeks to showcase the economic potential of its natural resources, including forests, wildlife, tourism and beekeeping, to an international audience attending IPU 153 in Arusha.
Speaking about the quality of Tanzania’s bee products, Subira Matimbwa, an Assistant Beekeeping Officer with the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), said the quality is closely linked to the country’s natural environment, particularly its forests and other areas that provide suitable habitats for bees.
She added that the use of appropriate and modern equipment during honey harvesting also contributes to maintaining product quality.
“We appreciate the recognition. Our products come from the natural environment we have, together with the use of modern equipment and expertise during harvesting,” Matimbwa said.
Tanzania’s extensive forest resources provide important habitats for bees and support beekeeping activities across different parts of the country. The sector has the potential to contribute to rural incomes, employment, environmental conservation and export earnings when production, processing and marketing are strengthened.
The presence of honey and other bee products at IPU 153 therefore provides an opportunity to connect Tanzania’s natural-resource conservation efforts with international markets and knowledge exchange.
The 153rd IPU Assembly, taking place at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), has brought together parliamentarians from around the world for discussions on global and regional issues, while Tanzania is also using the event to showcase opportunities in conservation, tourism and sustainable use of forest and bee resources.
