Honey Production Practices and Challenges in Selected Kebeles of Dire Enchini District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2024-08
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Any member of the Genus Apis that stores honey and builds wax nests that are permanent colonies is known as a honeybee. Honey is a natural food that honeybees make from nectar or other floral secretions mostly. This research was carried out in Dire Echini District West Shoa zone, Ethiopia to survey the opportunities and challenges of honey production in 2023/2024. Three Kebeles namely, Bola Demeka, Buyama Debale and Bola Roge were randomly selected. A total of 335 respondents with differing number from each Kebele were selected Stratified random sampling.. The semi-structured interviewed, structured questionnaire, focal group discussion and formal field survey method were used to collect the primary data. The major pests and predators of honey bee were ants, beetles, spiders, wasps, lizard, birds and honey badger. The results of the household survey showed that 74.7% of the hives owned by the bee keepers was traditional. About 64.2% beekeepers of the respondent were using honey for income. The data showed that about 51.6% of household respondents replied that the sources of honey bee colony are from the beehive itself. About 47.5% of honey production was influenced by ant and also about 46.6% of honey productions were affected by climatic condition such as high rain fall and humidity especially august month in this district. Majority of actors placed their hive on the roof and also about 50.1% of beekeepers harvested the honey in December. Therefore, using robust (strong) extension and technical assistance is crucial for farmers to use modern technologies in honey production and reduce different factors that hinder honey production in these districts. The opportunities for honey production and apiculture in the research area were the existence and abundance of honeybee colonies, young people potential and presence of possible flowering plants, abundant supplies of water for bees, Indigenous beekeepers knowledge & experience and socio-economic value of honey.
Description
Keywords
Beekeeping, Honeybee Colony, Honey Production