The estimated potential of bee products is about 138,000 tons of honey and 9,200 tons of beeswax per annum from an estimated potential of 9.2 million honey bee colonies. Reports show that only 4860 tons and 324 tons of honey and beeswax are prpoduced annually, about 3.5 percent of the production potentials of bee products are tapped.
 
 Traditional beekeepers are the main producers of these products.
 
 PRODUCTS AND POTENTIALS
 
 · Production of beeswax and honey.
 
 · Development of sub-sectors beekeeping – agro forestry systems to maximize the production of goods and services from the three sectors.
 
 · Establishment management, and ownership of bee reserves by all stakeholders.
 
 · Establishment and management of private apiaries.
 
 · Extension and facilitation for the production of beekeeping equipment and marketing
 
 · Establishment and development of honey based industries and production of beekeeping equipment
 
 Beekeeping Policy & Regulatory Framework
 
 The overall goal of the national beekeping policy is to enhance the contribution of the beekeping sector to the sustainable development of Tanzania and the conservation and management of her natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
 
 Policy Objectives:
 
 · Sustainable maintenance of honey bees and adequate bee reserves under effective management.
 
 · Improved quality and quantity of bees products on sustainable basis.
 
 · Increased employment opportunities and foreign exchange earnings.
 
 · Ensured ecosystem stability and biodiversity conservation and
 
 · Enhanced national capacity to manage and develop the beekeeping sector.
 
 The draft of beekeping legislation has been finalized and the review of other relevant policies and legislation is gogfing on.
 
 BEEKEEPING: ROLE OF PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR
 
 The public and the private sectors will work in partnership in the management and development of the beekeeping sector. Each sector will be given different roles and responsibilities as stipulated in the beekeeping policy of 1998. The communities, private sector and other non government organizations will be involved in the conservation and management of honey-bees while the government will issue guidelines and regulations for carrying out sustainable beekeeping activities. Mechanism for appropriate user rights and benefits from the resources will be worked out by the government.