With support from the European Union-funded ARDHI Tanga project, Mwinyi received beekeeping training. He started with a few traditional beehives, and as his experience and confidence grew, he mobilised other community members who shared the same interest and formed a group called Mradi Wetu (which means Our Project in English). 

Today, the group has 22 members, 7 men and 15 women, all of whom have received training in beekeeping and small business management provided by the ARDHI Tanga project. Together, they now own 60 beehives, with 48 already occupied by bees and producing honey.

Each hive produces between 10 and 20 litres of honey per harvest season. With one litre sold at 15,000 Tanzanian shillings (€5), the group has so far harvested 520 litres of honey and earned a total of 7.8 million Tanzanian shillings (€2,550).

The group’s success has not gone unnoticed. Their work has attracted the attention of local stakeholders, including the Pangani District Government, and they have been invited to showcase their products at several high-profile events.

Among these is the annual Nanenane Farmers’ Exhibition, held on August 8, where farmers from across Tanzania come together to display their produce and innovations. Participation in such events marks a significant milestone for the group, opening doors that were previously out of reach.

Mwinyi also represented beekeepers from Pangani District at a World Food Day exhibition in Tanga. Visitors to his stand praised the high quality of the honey and were impressed to learn that such products are now being produced in Jaira village, an area that until recently had no profile in beekeeping.