Masters Dissertations

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Browsing Masters Dissertations by Subject "Arumeru district"

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    The importance of home gardens on beekeeping activities in Arumeru District, Arusha-Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2001) Mwakatobe, Angela Richard
    The present study was conducted in Arumeru District, Arusha, Tanzania, during October to December 1999. The main objective was to determine the importance of the homegardens on beekeeping activities in Arumeru District. The study was carried out through a reconnaissance survey of the whole district; interviews of the homegarden household heads, beekeeping, extension and NGO's officers from village to the regional levels; and detailed technical field survey. Data collected included information on; the composition and structure of the homegardens with a view of indicating their influence on beehive colonization and subsequent yield of bee products, available indigenous knowledge on different beekeeping practices, the family and gender roles in beekeeping activities, contribution of beekeeping to the food security and economic stability of the households, constraints and opportunities in promoting beekeeping in homegardens and agroforestry systems in general. The results obtained indicated that; the Arumeru homegarden components include various animals, agricultural and none agricultural herb, shrub, and tree plant species many of which are of high melliferous value; the Arumeru people have rich indigenous knowledge on beekeeping activities which they utilize effectively in identifying appropriate beehive types, local materials and tree species for hive construction and baiting, preferable bee-fodder plants etc.; the beekeeping activities in Arumeru District are an exclusive domain of men with limited participation of women and the youth, mainly due to traditional customs; beekeeping industry plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of Arumeru District through generation of cash incomes, contribution to food security, health, raw materials for the local beer industry and pollination services from the bees; constraints limiting beekeeping activities in Arumeru District were identified to include land shortage, finance, extension services, low presence of bee-fodder plants, lack of processing and storage facilities, lethal farm pesticides, pests and predators. Following the discussion it is concluded that; the components of homegardens in Arumeru District, are highly interrelated and jointly play a significant role in promoting and sustaining beekeeping, local beekeepers have useful indigenous knowledge on different beekeeping practices, beekeeping is mainly practiced by men with limited women and youth participation and that the industry significantly contributes to the socioeconomic development of the people in Arumeru District. In order to promote the beekeeping industry in Arumeru District, the present study recommends a staped up promotion of especially, melliferous plants; rigorous training programme in beekeeping with due emphasis on creating gender awareness; formulation of coordinated marketing strategy of the bee products.