Farmers in six villages of Mpwapwa and Kongwa districts are set to benefit from a new beekeeping project launched by LEAD Foundation.

Some of the “lead” farmers from the six villages

The timely initiative, christened ‘Kiboriani Reforestation and Beekeeping
Project’ is an incentive to encourage the farmers to beef up the war against
environmental degradation in their areas.
In his remarks during launching of the project over the weekend in
Mpwapwa District, Director of Programmes at LEAD Foundation, Njamasi
Chiwanga, said the environment surrounding Kiboriani mountains, which is a major water source for the two districts have to a great extent destroyed by unfriendly human activities.
He added, mass deforestation at the said mountains had propelled major
havoc , including floods, land erosion and degradation, a situation which
destroyed even farming activities in most parts within the two districts.
“We have decided to introduce this project as indirect way of encouraging
the farmers to actively stand at the fore front in conserving their
environment”

“As long as beekeeping banks largely on availability of enough healthier
trees for carrying beehives, the farmers will automatically ensure for better environment in order to benefit from this project,” he said.
He said to start with, the project will absorb at least 600 households in the
six villages.

Mpwapwa District Administrative Secretary (C) Ms. Sarah Komba represented the District Commissioner as the Guest of Honour. On her right hand side is the Mpwapwa Constituency MP Hon. George Malima Lubeleje and on her left hand side is the acting District Executive Director of Mpwapwa District Council


Speaking shortly after handed over 300 beehives to the beneficiaries,
Mpwapwa District Administrative Secretary (DAS) Sarah Komba urged the
beneficiaries farmers’ groups to register their unions in order to access
loans from different financial institutions.
Moreover, she hailed LEAD Foundation for its commitment to stepping up
thee war against the wave of deforestation throughout the country.
The launched project, is under auspices of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Tanzania.

The foundation implements also a three-year program in all districts in
Dodoma Region. Dubbed ‘Kisiki Hai’ the regional wide movement targets to
make the region green, focusing to reach more than 180,000 households with set target of regenerating 14 million trees using the Kisiki Hai (FMNR) technique.