The hunter-gatherer Hadzabe tribe, who subsist on honey and other foodstuffs from the wild, will be assisted in the production of honey.

The project will be implemented by the Small Industries Development Organisation (Sido) in Arusha, one of the four regions inhabited by the tiny tribe.

Isidori Kiyenze, the Sido regional manager told reporters in Arusha last week that the European Union has also indicated willingness to support the initiative.

Tim Clarke, the head of EU Mission in Tanzania, expressed his support for the venture during his visit to Sido complex in Arusha.

Mr. Kiyenze said the project aims at sensitising and training the Hadzabe people on modern methods of beekeeping and honey production and processing.

"We have planned to train them in collaboration with the local authorities" he said after brief discussions with the visiting EU head of mission in the country.

A small group of Hadzabe tribesman, whose total population is said to be not more than 3,000, live in Karatu district near Lake Eyasi in Arusha region.

Others are found in Mbulu district in Manyara region, Iramba (Singida) and Meatu in Shinyanga region.

The main activity of the small tribe, believed to be the remaining Stone Age people in Tanzania, is hunting and gathering honey, fruits and berries.

"We have influenced them to attend the training but our constraint is funds. We would like to ask for your facilitation whenever possible" , he told Mr. Clarke.

However, the regional Sido boss said that training of the Hadzabe to adapt to modern techniques in honey production would be gradual.

"We would not like to see them abandoning their traditional way of life overnight as the new technologies could confuse them," he pointed out.

Last year Sido in Arusha trained about 120 women in processing of different types of food including honey processing and packaging.

Mr. Kiyenze said much of the honey produced in the region by the hunter gatherer tribe and other people was of poor quality.

He attributed the situation to poor packaging. Sido discouraged the packing of honey in metal containers and used plastic bails.

Stakeholders say Tanzania has the potential to produce 138,000 tonnes of honey and 9,200 tonnes of beeswax per year.

That could fetch the country a total of $ 237.1 million, mainly for exports.

Until recent years annual production was estimated at 5,600 and 600 tonnes of honey and beeswax respectively worth $ 10.2m.