Determinants of Honey Production in Dodoma Region, Central Tanzania A case of Bahi and Kongwa districts

In Tanzania, beekeeping is one of the significant livelihood options for small-scale farmers and communities in or adjacent to forests and woodlands. Besides the products, bees play a crucial role in providing ecosystem services, particularly in crop pollination, thereby enhancing crop production in terms of both quality and quantity, and improving the nutritional value of crops while promoting sustainable livelihoods. This paper assesses the determinants of honey production in the Bahi and Kongwa districts of the Dodoma region. A cross-sectional research design was employed, with data collected through simple random sampling using household questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Qualitative and quantitative information was analysed using SPSS version 21, R software (R Core Team) and Microsoft Excel 2016. The research revealed that honey productivity depends on the village in which beekeeping was practised (chisq = 209, df = 1, p < 0.001), education level of a beekeeper (chisq = 116, df = 3, p < 0.001), respondents’ experience in beekeeping (chisq = 18, df = 2, p < 0.001), number of beehives owned by a beekeeper (chisq = 1271, df = 1, p < 0.001), and age of the respondent (chisq = 116, df = 3, p < 0.001). Similarly, the ecological status of the area has a significant effect on bees’ productivity (chisq = 27, df = 3, p < 0.001). Furthermore, beekeeping practices affect productivity through frequency of management per harvesting season (chisq = 438, df = 1, p < 0.001), action taken during inspection of beehives (chisq = 195, df = 2, P < 0.001) and the provision of supplements (chisq = 91, df = 1, P < 0.001). Beekeeping is a lucrative business; however, low productivity in Tanzania, particularly in the Dodoma region, has been associated with poor management practices. These include supplementary feeding provided during harsh conditions, inadequate hive inspections, poor record-keeping, and ineffective colony management. The majority of beekeepers practice beekeeping as a hobby and an alternative source of income. The study recommends the application of best beekeeping practices for improving honey productivity.