Contribution Of Beekeeping Towards Rural Household Livelihood In Tanzania: The Case Of Two Selected Wards Mlali And Chamkoroma In Kongwa District, Dodoma

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at assessing the contribution of beekeeping towards household

livelihood with the aim of determining the potentiality of beekeeping towards the

households’ livelihoods as an effort to reducing poverty in Mlali and Chamkoroma wards

in Kongwa District, Dodoma. Specifically, the study intended (i), to assess the factors that

influence people to engage in beekeeping activities in the study areas. (ii), to investigate

the contribution of beekeeping towards household livelihood in the study areas. (iii), to

examine available strategies towards beekeeping in the study areas. Data were collected

using a cross- sectional design. Both probability and non- probability sampling procedure

were employed. Questionnaires, participatory observation and interviews were used to

collect data from the field. 97 respondents randomly were selected from two villages in

Kongwa District. The study has found that majority of beekeepers 50% were influenced

by the need to increase income while the rest were influenced by other beekeepers.

Furthermore, beekeeping was found to have met the expectations to majority 80% of the

beekeepers. The researcher, therefore, concludes that beekeeping has improved peoples’

livelihoods in the study area. Despite the absence of a special allocated site for operating

beekeeping activities in the study areas as affirmed by 90% of the respondents, majority

99% of the respondents are able to access new knowledge on beekeeping from NGOs and

internet. The study recommends that, the government should provide beekeeping

equipment as well as market and price information to beekeepers.