Participatory Improved Beekeeping Technology Demonstration and Evaluation, Daro Labu, Western Hararghe, Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia

Sudi Dawud

doi:10.7176/jnsr/9-5-08

Abstract

Participatory demonstration and evaluations of improved beekeeping technologies were conducted in Daro labu district of West Hararghe zone with major objectives of demonstrating improved beekeeping technologies & strengthen research-extension-farmers linkage in beekeeping technology generation and transfer. Demonstration and evaluations of box & transitional hive with ant protection, bee management and product processing was conducted by forming farmers research groups(FRGs) at 4 peasant association (PAs) of Daro labu district; from the demonstration an average of 25.16kg semi-extracted,12.6kg and 6kg crude honey per hive/annum was harvested using box, transitional and traditional hives with ant protection respectively and bees wax purification was also demonstrated on farmers field. Therefore, all the demonstrated and evaluated technologies have been recommended for the mandate area to further promote the technologies in to the areas where there is a gap in utilizing and disseminating the technologies. DOI : 10.7176/JNSR/9-5-08 Publication date :March 31 st 2019

Highlights

In Ethiopia, beekeeping has been practiced for centuries and its potential is well documented
Most of local beehives are hanged over high trees
Honey production from honeybees are very low with an average of 5-6 kg per hive per year, while from the improved one average of 15-20 kg even more is possible

Summary

Introduction

In Ethiopia, beekeeping has been practiced for centuries and its potential is well documented. Of all the countries in the world, no country has such a long tradition of beekeeping than Ethiopia (Nebiyu Y and Messele T, 2000). Despite its long history, beekeeping in Ethiopia is still an undeveloped sector of agriculture. The knowledge and skill of honey and beeswax production of Ethiopian farmers is still very traditional (MoARD,2003). According to CSA, the major honey and beeswax producing regions in Ethiopia are Oromia (41%), SNNPR (22%), Amhara (21%) and Tigray (5%) (CSA, 2003). The country is suffering from the ecological degradation of its natural resources and this means the basis for any honey production is threatened and affected. In many regions of the country, beekeeping is considered as one of the incomegenerating activities for resource-poor farmers including women, youth and the unemployed sectors of the community (Gezahegn T, 2001)

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Conclusion