Study on Beekeeping Practices, Honey Production and their Opportunities and Challenges in Ahferom Woreda, Central Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia
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Date
2019-09-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Beekeeping has been practiced for longer period of time in all parts of Ethiopia though the benefit from this sector is not still satisfactory when compared to its potential. The present study was carried out to assess beekeeping practices and honey production and to identify the major constraints and opportunities of beekeeping in selected rural kebeles of Ahferom woreda, central zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. For the study, 100 respondent beekeepers were selected from four selected rural kebeles and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussion to collect data. Secondary data also used. The data was processed and analyzed using Spss software version 20 and Excel sheet. Findings of the study showed that beekeeping activity was dominated by males and 51.42% movable frame and 48.4% traditional beehives possessed by the 100 respondents. Major constraints of beekeeping identified by respondent beekeepers were pests and predators, drought, agrochemical application, lack of bee forage, absconding, swarming, death of colony by disease, poor inspection and management, poor extension service and lack of honey market channel connection. Moreover, common harmful bee enemies were identified such as birds, ants, wax moths, spider, and honey badger. Despite all the constraints and challenges there are huge potentials that boost productivity from the sector in the area. Most respondents harvest honey once a year and all store their honey in plastic containers. Mean honey yield produced from movable beehive in 2007EC-2010EC in the study area is higher than traditional beehive but there is shown a decreasing trend in honey yield in both beehives. From findings of the study it was revealed that even though most beekeepers use modern system of beekeeping, they were unable to produce the expected product in relation to its potential due to the major constraints and environmental conditions that affects beekeeping in the study area. Accordingly, honey yield showed decreasing trend in the previous four years of the study period. Hence it is suggested to focus on considering strategies on controlling methods of major constraints, introducing and planting essential indigenous variety bee flora species and exploiting the untapped potential to increase productivity and ensure benefit of beekeepers from the sector.
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Beekeeping, Constraints of Beekeeping, Honey Production