Characterization of Beekeeping Systems and Honey Value Chain, and Effects of Storage Containers and Durations on Physico-Chemical Properties of Honey in Kilte Awlaelo District, Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia
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2015-05
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the existing beekeeping system and honey production, identify major bee flora, honey storage methods, honey marketing and value chain actors, constraints of beekeeping and honey production, and honey quality as influenced by storage containers and durations in Kilte Awlaelo district of Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia. A semi-structured questionnaire interview and focus group discussion were the main tools used to gather primary data from the households and honey value chain actors. The household data were collected from 156 beekeepers in three tabias of the district. For the physico-chemical analysis, 20 kg of honey was harvested from frame beehive of a single farmer and stored in plastic pot, tin-can and glass for 0, 3 and 6 months and analyzed for moisture, ash, pH, acidity and HMF. Majority (95.5%) of the beekeepers owned frame beehives and only 4.5% of the beekeepers owned traditional beehives. The average beekeeping experience of the beekeepers was 9.48 years with the range varying from 1 to 34 years. The average honey yield per hive/harvest and per year was 7.66 and 16 kg for traditional beehive, 19.4 and 35 kg for frame beehive, respectively. Beekeepers identified Becium grandiflorum, Hypoestes forskaolii, Leucas abyssinica, Euclea schimperi, Cordia Africana, Eucalptus spp. and, Opuntia ficus-indica as the major bee forage. Honey badger, ants, wax moth, spider, birds, lizard and snake were identified as the major bee pests and predators in their order of importance. About 14.7%, 15.4% and 21.2% of the beekeepers store honey for 1-3, 4-6 and more than 6
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months, respectively. Plastic pots (54.5%), tin-can (30.1%), glass (9.6%) and clay pots (5.8%) were identified as containers used to store honey. The results of the physico-chemical analysis indicated that all the samples (100%) are within the acceptable range of world and Ethiopian honey quality standards with moisture (17.25%), ash (0.14%), pH (3.86), acidity (17.57 meq/kg) and HMF (1.71 mg/kg). The honey quality analysis indicated that the honey from the study district to be of high quality and safe for local consumption and for export. From the value chain analysis, the distribution of frame beehives in the study district was increasing from 43 beehives in 1998 to 490 beehives per year in 2013 due to interventions by different governmental and nongovernmental organizations. From the enabling environment, it was observed that the different developmental polices and strategies of the government to be sufficient for practicing apiculture in small and commercial scales. From this study it was revealed that the quality of honey produced was high, and the potential for honeybee and quality honey production in the district is very high, which calls for proper intervention along the value chain components and actors, and involvement of huge investment in the development of honey production, processing and export. Also, a continued support with policies, strategies and programs at all levels will play a role for the sustainability of the sector.
Key words: Bee forage, honeybee, honey quality, honey storage, Kilte Awlaelo district, production system
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Keywords
Bee forage, honeybee, honey quality, honey storage, Kilte, Awlaelo, district, production system