Survey on Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities of Honey Production and its Marketing System in Hawa Gelan District Kellam Wollega Zone Western Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/jtpms.2024.04(04).01Keywords:
Bee Keeping, Challenges, Hawa Gelan, Marketing, Opportunities, TrendsAbstract
The study was conducted in Hawa Gelan District, Kellem Wollega of Western Oromia national regional state, Ethiopia to assess trends, challenges and opportunities of honeybee production and marketing systems. Structured questionnaire was employed for the study. The cross-sectional study design were carried out by using desk research, interviews, surveys and visual observation as methods in seeking answer to research questions. Purposive (district), simple random (Peasant Associations) and Census (beekeepers) sampling techniques were employed to select 96 beekeepers from two Peasant Associations. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. In the study area, three types of honeybee production practices were identified, namely: Traditional, Intermediate and Movable frame hive honeybee production practices. The result shows most 69.79 % of beekeepers in the study area have owned only traditional bee hives. As a result the average annual honey produced per households was very low which estimated 93 kg in 2015. The average amount of honey harvested /hive/year from traditional hive, transitional hive and modern hive were 4.32±0.042kg, 9.83±1.05kg and 14.2±2.52kg respectively. The mean yields obtained from the three hives were statistically significant at (p < 0.05). From the beekeepers (64.6%) and (59.3%) have declared that deceasing trend of honey production and colony number from time to time respectively. Honey marketing participants were consumers (35%), retailers and consumers (31%), retailers (24%) and collectors (7.5%). The most important constraints, as beekeepers responded in their order of sequence were pests and predators (41.30%), poisoning of agro-chemicals (23.60%), high cost of modern hives and accessories (11.20%), shortage of bee forages (9.40%), low quality of honey products (7.20%), Poor infrastructure development (5.30%) and other factors (2.0%) were identified respectively. Despite of these, there are also future opportunities like presence of huge number of bee colonies (32.5%), availability of diverse vegetation plants and ample sources of water (21.70%), increasing demand of local honey (17.65%), presence of good government policy (9.0%) and others factors (19.15%). Further study is required to characterize honey bees of the area, quality of honey, major pests, predators and disease of economic importance. However, improving honey bee production techniques is important.
References
Chala K., Taye T., Kebede D. and Tadele T. (2012): Opportunities and challenges of honey production in Gomma district of Jimma zone, South-west Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Vol. 4(4):85-91.
Gemechis Legesse Yadeta (2015): Honey Production and Marketing in Ethiopian. American Journal of Life Sciences, Vol. 3:42-46.
Chala Kinati, Taye Tolemariam and Kebede Debele (2013): Assessment of Honey Production and Marketing System in Gomma District, South Western Ethiopia. Greener Journal of Business and Management Studies, Vol. 3(3): 099-107.
Haftu K., Daniel D., Gebru B., Tsegay G., Guash A., Guesh G., Mulualem Z., Gebrekiros G. (2015): Analysis of Honey Bee Production Opportunities and Challenges in Central Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Vol. 5:2250-3153.
Gidey Yirga and Mekonen Teferi (2010): Participatory Technology and Constraints Assessment to Improve the Livelihood of Beekeepers in Tigray Region, northern Ethiopia. Gidey, Y and Mekonen, T (MEJS) Volume, 2 (1): 76-92.
Sisay Fikru (2015): Review of Honey Bee and Honey Production in Ethiopia. J. Anim. Sci. Adv., 5 (16):1413-1421.
Bureau of Livestock and Fishery Development Agency of Hawa Gelan District (BLFDAHGD) (2015): Honeybee Extension and Honey Development Sectors.
Alemayehu Kebede (2011): Honey Bee Production Practices and Honey Quality in Silti Wereda, Ethiopia. M.Sc. thesis presented to Haramaya University, Eastern Ethiopia. Research Gates, Pp: 560-686.
Agricultural Bureau of Hawa Gelan District (ABHGD) (2015): General Socio Economic Feature of Hawa Gelan District.
Central Statistical Agency and Agricultural sample survey of 2013: Volume II report on: Livestock and Livestock Characteristics. Central Statistical Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Keralem Ejjgu (2009): Honey bee production system, opportunities and challenges in Enebse Sar Midir Woreda (Amhara Region) and Amaro Special Wereda (Southern Nations, Nationalities and peoples Region), Ethiopia. M.Sc. thesis presented to Haramaya University, Pp: 23-131.
Central Statistical Agency and Agricultural sample survey of 2007: Volume II report on: Livestock and Livestock Characteristics. Central Statistical Agency, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tessega Belie (2009): Honeybee Production and Marketing Systems, Constraints and Opportunities in Burie District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Department of Animal Science and Technology, School of Graduate Studies Bahir Dar University, Pp/1-131.
Yetimwork Gebremeskel, Berhan Tamir and Desalegn Begna (2015): Honeybee production trend, potential and constraints in Eastern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia. Journal of North America, 6(1): 22-29.
Nebiyu Yemane and Messele Taye (2013): Honeybee production in the three Agro-ecological districts of Gamo Gofa zone of southern Ethiopia with emphasis on constraints and opportunities. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America, 4(5): 560-567.
Teklu Gebretsadik and Dinku Negash (2016): Honeybee Production System, Challenges and Opportunities in Selected Districts of Gedeo Zone, Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia. International Journal of Research Granthaa layah, Vol. 4(4): 49-63.
Tesfaw A. (2012): Beekeeping systems, opportunities and challenges in honey production and marketing in Ada'a district of Oromia region, Ethiopia. A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Animal production studies to Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Ethiopia, Pp: 1-127.
Beyene T. and David P. (2007): Ensuring small scale producers in Ethiopia to achieve sustainable and fair access to honey markets. Paper prepared for international development enterprises (IDE) and Ethiopian Society for Appropriate Technology (ESAT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
