Modern Hives Research Articles

Assessment of Beekeeping Practice and Its Constraints in Cheha Woreda of Gurage Zone

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of beekeeping and its practice taking place, constraints affecting the beekeeping practice of the area. For this study, 20 households were selected randomly, with the total of 60 households. Both primary and secondary source of data was collected. The primary data were collected mainly from interviews and by observation, whereas secondary data were collected from Chaha Woreda Agricultural office. Further more, visits to the districts were taken to gather relevant information for the study prior to actual survey. The results of this study show that, out of the respondents, 51 were male headed households whereas the rest 9 households were female headed. Majority of household in the area was from 20-60 years old indicating that, active working force is dominant in the study area. In relation to educational level, 20% of the respondents were illiterate and the remaining had got at least basic education quantitatively, 18.33%, 28.33% and 13.33% of the respondents had attended elementary school, secondary and high school, respectively. Beekeeping is an ancient farming activity and practiced as a side line with other farm activities. Based on the type of hives and management practiced, three types of beekeeping are yet visible in the area. There was no significant variation in proportion of hives among the study kebeles. <i>However, Sisenamati, which was lower in number of transitional hive, has shown relatively high potential with modern hive followed by warden. Adoshe was better in potential of transitional hive but has lower number of modern hive. </i>Out of householders, 53.4%, 30.6%, 9.4% and 6.6% state that they have place traditional hive under the roof of the house, hanging on trees, inside the house and back yard respectively.

Exploring the adoption of modern hives among stingless beekeeping in Sabah, Malaysia: The approach of diffusion of innovation theory

Exploring the adoption of modern hives among stingless beekeeping in Sabah, Malaysia: The approach of diffusion of innovation theory

Assessing the economic returns of modern and traditional beehives

Beekeeping is a vital economic activity for smallholder farmers; therefore, it is essential to provide beekeepers with information regarding the profitability and productivity of box hives to encourage them to embrace the technology. However, scant information is available to comprehensively compare the profitability and output of traditional and modern beehives. This study seeks to compare the performance of traditional and modern beehives in Baringo South Sub-County. Simple random sampling was used in conjunction with a cross-sectional survey to collect data from the 197 beekeepers who participated in the study. A gross margin analysis was performed to understand the returns of traditional and modern hives. According to the findings, individuals who used traditional beehives had a higher overall operational cost of Ksh. 1449.44 per hive, whereas those who used modern hives had a total operational cost of Ksh. 1000.73. In addition, the study also demonstrated that those that utilised modern beehives received larger gross margins in Kenyan shillings 7917.74, whilst those who used traditional beehives received Ksh. 5590.59. According to the study’s findings, modern beekeeping generates higher returns than traditional beekeeping. As a result, farmers should be encouraged to employ modern beehives to generate higher returns.

Survey on Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities of Honey Production and its Marketing System in Hawa Gelan District Kellam Wollega Zone Western Ethiopia

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.

Molecular Detection and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Salmonella Enterica and Escherichia Coli Isolated From Honeybee Gut in Holeta Town, Western Shewa, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study conducted in Ethiopia from December 2021 to June 2022 investigated the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica in honeybee colonies in Holeta Town, West Shewa. Out of 200 honeybee samples analyzed using bacteriologic culture, biochemical, and PCR tests, 15 (7.5%) were positive for E. coli and 11 (5.5%) for S. enterica. Additionally, PCR targeting the invA gene detected S. enterica in 10 samples (5%). Notably, traditional hives showed higher rates of pathogen occurrence compared to modern colonies. None of the E. coli isolates exhibited virulence genes. The study found significant associations (P<0.05) between Salmonella isolation and factors such as feed supplement, water type, and colony collapse. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that all E. coli and 63.6% of S. enterica isolates were resistant to Ampicillin, Clindamycin, and Penicillin. Conversely, all E. coli isolates were susceptible to Streptomycin, while only Streptomycin (100%) and Trimethoprim (63.6%) showed effectiveness against S. enterica. The findings suggest that management practices play a crucial role in honeybee health and pathogen contamination. Implementing modern hives and adopting good management practices including inspection, feeding, sanitation, and disease control are recommended to mitigate the impact of pathogens on honeybee colonies in the study area.

Assessment of Post-Harvest Handling Practices of Honey in Erer Zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

Honey is a natural food that honeybees make from nectar or other floral secretions. Although Ethiopia has been producing honey for a long time, the quality of the honey produced there, and in the study region in particular, is still poor because of improper handling practices. The objective of this study was to assess post-harvest handling practices of honey in the Erer zone, Somali regional state, Ethiopia. Two districts namely Lagahida and Fik were selected purposively based on beekeeping potential and three kebeles were selected from each district purposively based on honey production potential, and lastly a total of 156 beekeeping households were randomly selected for this study. The study revealed that sampled households used traditional beekeeping systems and hung their hives on trees away from the homestead in dense forests. Honey is harvested two times a year and the average honey yield from traditional and modern hives was 3.65 & 9.73 kg, respectively. The majority (79.5%) of the respondents used smoke and fire during honey harvesting and honey is harvested at night time and this affects honey quality because smoke and ashes from the fire ends up mixing with the harvested honey. The majority (76.95%) of the beekeepers collect and store honey in plastic containers. However, these containers are not appropriate and can spoil honey and may result in quality deterioration. The majority (80.8%) of the beekeepers do not strain honey and only 19.2% of them strain honey before it is sold by simple drainage to remove the beeswax using hand (13.4%) and sieve (5.8%). The beekeepers who do not strain honey reported that they lacked straining materials (29.5%), lack of knowledge of straining (9.6%), and lack of both knowledge & materials (41.7%). High cost of beekeeping equipment, pests & predators, water scarcity, shortage of bee forage, absconding & marketing problem were the major constraints of honey production in the area. The study concluded that the majority of the beekeepers practice traditional beekeeping systems and improper honey-handling practices. Therefore, awareness creation and training of beekeepers on proper handling measures of honey is very crucial in addition to the provision of improved beekeeping equipment which would significantly contribute to honey quality enhancement. Furthermore, investigations on the implications of poor handling practices on honey quality and from the perspective of public health are also required.

Study on Management Practice and Challenges on Beekeeping in Bagnaskali, Palpa, Nepal

Beekeeping is the architectural design of hives to increase honey bee productivity. Research methods used between February to December 2021 in Bagnaskali Rural Municipality (Khanigaun and Barangdi), Palpa. This study's aims were to understand beekeeping management practice and investigate its challenges. Random sampling methods were employed by surveys, interviews, and field observations. Throughout the study period, semi-structured interviews with 30 household respondents were performed. They preferred modern hive than traditional hive which were placed backward side of house. Four times a year, respondents collect honey, producing high-quality honey products. The high demand for local honey, the distance to the market, the scarcity of bee colonies, disease outbreaks, etc. were the most frequent challenges in managing honey bee practices. In addition to these, biological pests and predators of honey bees in the current study area included wasps, spiders, ants, beetles, lizards, wax moths, and mites. This investigation adds to the body of traditional knowledge on beekeeping challenges and management. It is necessary to conduct more research on the local honeybee population or sample, diseases, pests, and predators.

Rural revitalization through improvements of technical efficiency in honey production: Evidence from Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Making apiaries more effective is only one aspect of reviving the beekeeping industry. Additionally, the beekeeping industry is generating employment both in rural and urban locations. This study’s goal was to identify the technical levels of honey production in Ethiopia’s Horo Guduru Wollega zone and their contributing factors. To accomplish the aforementioned objective, structured questionnaire data collected from 396 households were used. Stochastic production frontier estimator shows that the number of hives, the amount of work put into producing honey, and the area of the land all significantly influenced the amount of honey produced. In the mean technical of both traditional and modern hives, there were 56.68% and 73.93%, respectively. This demonstrates how technically more efficient farmers who use contemporary hives to make honey are. According to mean technical efficiency, both beekeepers were, however, operating below the production frontier. Household sex, credit utilization, extension services, training, beekeeping experience, and family size were significant technical efficiency variables for honey producers. The study suggests policies to address technical inefficiencies by increasing the number of hives, extending the best performers’ experience by increasing the frequency of extension contacts on honey production, facilitating and expanding credit service in the study area, making bee forage access simple, and increasing forest coverage on land area in line with current policy of Ethiopia. Additionally, since farmers in the study area spend their time guarding the honey from damage by ants, labor that utilizes technology must be made available.

Study of factors limiting the development of beekeeping in the conservation of natural resources

Introduction: The development of beekeeping depends on many factors. This study is conducted in the rural communes of Marosakoa and Andranofasika, around the protected area of ​​Ankarafantsika. It is one of the rural communes with a beekeeping vocation and honey producers in the Boeny Region, even if it is dominated by traditional beekeeping. Objectives: The overall objective is to describe and analyze the constraints of beekeeping in the conservation of natural resources. Methods: Survey with direct interview by questionnaires formulated at the level of 54 beekeepers using traditional hives and modern hives equipped by the PAGE / GIZ program, documentation and follow-up at the level of apiaries for 6 months in the rural municipalities of Marosakoa and Andranofasika, around the protected area of ​​Ankarafantsika were carried out to determine the constraints of beekeeping. The data collected was processed and analyzed with XLSTAT software. Results: Environmental, economic and social constraints, desertion and varroa mites were observed in apiaries and hampered beekeeping production. The use of APIGENER product can contribute to the fight against the Varroa destructor parasite in bee colonies to the development of the beekeeping sector. Conclusion: All these constraints reduce the quantity of beekeeping production and the prices of honey and wax. They have impacts on the conservation of natural resources.

Beekeeping Practices and Physicochemical Properties of Honey Produced in Maun, Botswana

Beekeeping sector plays a major role in rural socio-economic development and environmental conservation. Maun has been identified as one of the excellent potential areas for honeybee production in Botswana because of its suitable agroecological condition for beekeeping. Maun village is located in north-western Botswana and tourism is the main economic activity in the area. It is situated at the gateway for tourists visiting the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. The study was conducted to assess beekeeping practices and determine the physicochemical properties of honey produced in Maun village. Honeybee production practices were assessed by conducting questionnaire survey. Three honey samples were obtained each from backyard hives and the forest and analysed for their physicochemical properties following standard procedures. Honey samples collected from backyard hives had an average moisture (%), pH, free acidity (meq/kg), total ash (%), reducing sugars (%), sucrose (%) and Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (mg/kg) contents of 18.03±0.15, 4.12±0.02, 21.6±0.10, 0.14±0.01, 71.27±0.13, 1.63±0.02 and 17.67±0.21, respectively. The corresponding values for honey samples collected from the forest were 17.43±0.21, 6.45±0.17, 13.17±0.06, 0.27±0.02, 60.38±0.16, 0.84±0.04 and 20.63±0.55, respectively. Significant differences (p＜0.05) were observed between backyard and forest honey samples for all the parameters considered. The pH, total ash and HMF contents of forest honey samples were significantly higher (p＜0.05) than the corresponding values for backyard honey. On the other hand, the moisture, free acidity, reducing sugars and sucrose contents of backyard honey samples were significantly higher (p＜0.05) than the corresponding values for forest honey. In Maun area, honey is mainly produced in the backyards of farmers using modern hives although some honey is collected from the forest. The dominant vegetation in the area that are used as bee forage include herbs such as rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), lavender (Lavendula angustifolia), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and peppermint (Mentha piperita), strawberry plant (Fragaria ananassa), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea). Honey is mostly harvested in December, and it is used for acne and flu remedy, colds, and as a sweetener. The major challenges of beekeeping in the area were reported to be pests such as wax moth, ants and yellow jackets; use of pesticides and harsh weather conditions. In conclusion, honey produced in Maun area is of good quality. Most of the physicochemical parameters of both honey types analysed in the present study were within the limits of international standards for honey.

Status and Prospective of Beekeeping in Bhutan: A Review

Beekeeping is an ancient tradition in Bhutan. The country is divided into six agro-ecological zones and about 70.5% of the total land is covered with natural forest. Total six honey bee species are found. Three of them are kept in traditional and modern hives for honey production. Among the four regions, east central region produces the maximum honey followed by west central, western and eastern regions. The honey price per kg is Nu.5,000 ( US $ 63.5 ) to 7,000 (US $ 88.9) for Trigona honey, Nu.550 (US $ 6.9 ) to 1,410 (US $ 17.9) for A. cerana honey and Nu.700 (US $ 8.9 ) to 1,000 (US $ 12.7) for A. mellifera honey respectively. Currently, the estimated number of three species of honey bee colonies in Bhutan is 18,000 including traditional and modern hives. As domestic honey production cannot meet the growing market demand of the honey, Bhutan imports the quantity equal to its annual production from India to meet the domestic market demand. Beekeeping sector development was mainly constrained by the lack of a laboratory facilities and absence of breeding station for bee selection and breeding. Further, pests and predators, agro-chemical use and the negative impact of climate change are hindering beekeeping sector development. To address these problems, government and non-government organizations including private sectors are collectively putting their efforts to improve the sector.

Marketable supply of honey: evidence from farmers households in Ethiopia

Identifying determinants of honey market supply in smallholder producers were the objective of the study. Both primary and secondary data were collected. A total of 150 honey producer households were selected randomly from honey producer households and data were collected by individual interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and a focus group discussion. Secondary data were collected from published and unpublished sources. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression models. The model result revealed that beekeeping experience, training participation, colony number, frequency of extension contact and types of beehive owned significantly affect the volume of the honey marketed. The study highlights the importance of providing training, arranging field days and creating a forum for experience sharing, providing of a modern hive and giving good extension services.

Traditional Management Practices and Production Potential of Beekeeping in Erer Zone of Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

The study was carried out in Erer zone, Somali Region of Ethiopia, to assess beekeeping practices and production. A total of 156 respondents were selected randomly from two purposively selected localities based on beekeeping potential and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed the majority of the respondents (85.9%) practiced traditional beekeeping system and hung their hives on trees away from the homestead in dense forest. The honeybee flora of the area consists mostly of nectar and pollen-producing trees and shrubs including Grewia tenax, Grewia penicillata, Acaciamellifera, Acaciareficiens, Acaciatortilis, Acaciasenegal, and Acaciahorrida. The average honey yield from traditional beehives was 4.85 kg, which is less than the national average yield (5 kg). The average honey yield from modern beehives, on the other hand, was 7.29 kg which is lower the amount obtained from other parts of the country. The major constraints of beekeeping are the high cost of modern hives and accessories, pests and predators of honey bees, water scarcity, shortage of bee forage, bee absconding and marketing. Birds, ants, spiders, wax moth, mice, lizards, and honey badgers were identified as the major honeybee pests and predators based on beekeeper responses. Pests and predators (37.8%), destroying nests during honey harvesting (26.9%), water scarcity (21.2%), and shortage of bee forage (14.1%) were the most common reasons for honeybee absconding. Beekeeping production remains low due to these constraints and traditional practices in the area. However, there is enormous potential and opportunity to increase honeybee production in the area. To improve the quantity and quality of honey yield in the area, significant extension and technical intervention, use of locally available beekeeping technologies, appropriate measures to manage honeybee pests and absconding, and training to enrich beekeepers' knowledge are necessary to be implemented.

Socioeconomic and technical characterization of beekeeping in Burkina Faso: case of the Center-West Region

Beekeeping is a potential source of income for rural populations. Once viewed as a minor agrosylvopastoral activity, beekeeping is now considered a promising activity. However, data to guide interventions are insufficient. The objective of this study was to carry out a technical and socioeconomic characterization of beekeeping in the Center-West Region of Burkina Faso. A cross-sectional survey using a pretested questionnaire enabled to collect information on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of beekeepers (n = 113), and the characteristics of apiaries and beekeeping practices. The results showed that the majority of beekeepers were male (64.3%), educated (71.4%), with an average age of 42.8 ± 10.4 years, belonging mainly to the Mossi ethnic group (76.9%). Practiced as a secondary activity, the main attraction of beekeeping was its profitability for 69.0% of those interviewed. With a dominance of modern Kenyan type hives, the typology identified three production systems: the modern system, the traditional system and the mixed system. Average production was 6.9 ± 2.9 and 11.5 ± 2.8 liters per year for the traditional and modern hives, respectively. The profitability of the apiaries reached 10,504 and 24,620 CFA francs annual net margin for the traditional and modern hives, respectively. The main constraints revealed by the study were the lack of modern equipment and financial resources, insufficient technical supervision, and pests/predators.

Geographical Variation of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L. 1758) Populations in South-Eastern Morocco: A Geometric Morphometric Analysis

In Morocco, there are two well-recognised honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) subspecies: A. m. intermissa in the north and A. m. sahariensis in the south-east. The latter subspecies is found in the arid and semiarid climates of the Sahara Desert. In this study, we used honey bees from four areas of south-eastern Morocco which are, to some degree, isolated by arid zones. We analysed the shape and size of the forewings, using the method of geometric morphometrics. The bees from the four areas of south-eastern Morocco differed significantly in terms of wing shape. Moreover, bees from traditional hives were smaller than those from modern hives. The bees from south-eastern Morocco were clearly different from the reference samples obtained from the Morphometric Bee Data Bank in Oberursel, Germany, representing most of the global variation in honey bees. Surprisingly, the bees were also different from A. m. sahariensis, which should occur in the study area, according to earlier studies. This difference could have been caused by introgression with non-native subspecies imported by beekeepers. The distinct honey bees from south-eastern Morocco deserve to be protected. We provide a method for identifying them, which can help protect them.

Assessment of Major Honey Bee Forage Resources and Floral Calendar Establishment in Selected Districts of Arsi Zone, Oromia Region State, Ethiopia

The study was conducted from 2015 to 2017 G.C. with the objective of identifying and documenting honey bee forage plant resource, establishing flowering calendar and recommending the necessary seasonal colony management practices in selected districts of Arsi zone. Semi-structured questionnaire tool was used to collect data. Ninety beekeepers were selected and involved in data collection. Traditional, transitional and modern bee hives were used for honey production. The overall mean of colony owned per household in the current study areas was found to be 5.2 + 5.2. Honey production was conducted during two seasons namely: major and minor seasons. The mean of honey yield per traditional, transitional and modern hive was 10.8 + 5.9kg, 19.8 + 17.3kg and 33.2 + 48.9kg, respectively. 61.1% of the respondents harvest honey two times a year, whereas 34.5% of them harvest honey once a year and 4.4% of respondents three times a year. Honeybee was found to be in critical shortage of forage during months ranging from December to August. A total of 98 plant floras including trees, shrubs, herbs, cultivated crops and animal feeds and grasses were identified in the current study areas. G uizotia scabra, equiliptus globules and vernonia species were the most frequently identified plant species . The knowledge in the identification of honey bee flora and their flowering time has therefore paramount importance in assisting beekeepers to establish appropriate colony management calendar and honey flow season. Further detail studies focusing on bee flora should be conducted and awareness creation of experts and farmers on seasonal management of beehives through training is required. Keywords: honey bee, bee flora, flowering time, Arsi, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/83-02 Publication date: March 31 st 2022

Assessment of Value Chain for Honey and Beeswax Initiatives in Zanzibar

Honey and beeswax production in Zanzibar become important activities in raising livelihood income for rural communities. However, it is still difficult for the production yielded from these to contribute to fighting rural poverty. This research study is geared towards analyzing the performance and efficiency of the honey and beeswax value chain and its challenges in order to disclose opportunities and synergy for reducing income poverty to beekeepers in Zanzibar. The study conducted in Zanzibar focusing both Unguja and Pemba Island, covering two districts from each Island. Descriptive research using both qualitative and quantitative data obtained from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 120 respondents randomly and proportionally selected from beekeepers in four districts. Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews and Field visits were also conducted. Data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) versions 2016 with Excel Spread Sheet in Office 2016. The result revealed that, the major value chain activities involved were input supply, production, processing, marketing to final consumers. The actors identified were input supplier, producers, processors, traders, and consumers. The study also revealed that, majority 80.4% of beekeepers use traditional/ log hives which proved to give low yield in this study. The result also portrayed that, about 2.8% of respondents that use Langstroth hives whereas 16.0% use top bar hive It was also found that annual average yield of honey per hive types was 9.09litres from traditional/log hive, 10 liters from Top bar hives and 16.85 litres from Langstroth hives. The price of unprocessed honey ranges from TZS 20,000 to 30,000 (9 to 14 US $) per liter while processed honey is T.SH 35,000 to 40,000 (15 to 17 US$) per litre. Various challenges were identified including inadequate supply of modern hive and equipment, climate change and variability, inadequate training and extension services, deforestation and forest fire, inversion of diseases pests and predator, lack of honey processing and marketing centre as well as capital. The profitability analysis indicates that, the annual net revenue per hive is TZS 203,347(US$ 93) for traditional /log hive, TZS 227,166 (US$ 103) for Top bar hive and TZS 342,536 (US$ 156) for Langstroth hive.

Review on Honey Value Chain in Ethiopia

The review has been conducted with the objectives of the core functions and major actors involved, distribution of benefits of actors along the honey value chain and Challenges and opportunities of honey value chain in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna in Africa. The country produced about 45 thousand tons which accounted about 27% and 3% of African and World honey production respectively and makes the country the largest producers in Africa and the tenth in the world. More than one million households are estimated to keep bees using traditional, intermediate and modern hives. Apiculture is a promising off-farm enterprise, which directly and indirectly contributes to smallholder’s income in particular and nation’s economy in general. It has been reported that annually an average of 420 million Ethiopian Birr is obtained from the sale of honey. The subsector is also creating job opportunities in both rural and urban areas through organizing jobless urban and landless rural youth and women to involve in them in bee equipment production and beekeeping activities. The sector traditional production system is the main feature where 96% of the hives are reported to be traditional and 91% of the total honey produced comes from traditional hives. Ethiopia has adequate natural resources and a long tradition and culture of beekeeping. However, mainly because of lack of technological changes, institutional supports and access to market and value chain development, the country in general and the rural beekeeping households in particular have not been sufficiently benefited from the sub sector. The major constraints to exploit the untapped potential of beekeeping activity in the country are lack of knowledge and skill on beekeeping, lack of institutional linkage, lack of organized marketing channel, low access to improved beekeeping equipment and agrochemical bee poisoning. Efforts should be geared to develop efficient input delivery systems and knowledge-based honey production to improve production side and introduction of value adding management practices and market linkage from marketing side are the most important aspect of enhancing the livelihood and source of income for honey producers. Keywords : Honey; Value chain; Market channel; Challenges; Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/84-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2022

Adoption of Modern Hive Beekeeping Technology: The Case of Kacha-Birra Woreda, Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Beekeeping is one of the livelihood options available to Ethiopian farmers. The objectives of this study were to analyze the level of adoption of modern hive technology by farmers and to identify the variables influencing the adoption of modern beekeeping hive technology in Kacha-Birra Woreda. Primary data were collected from 89 respondents chosen using a multistage sampling process, while qualitative data were collected through focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Data were analyzed using a binary logit regression model and descriptive statistics. According to the results of the model, several factors, such as the educational level of the respondents, the size of the land, the extension, the contact, and the access to financing and market, had a substantial impact on the adoption of modern hive beekeeping technology. It is suggested that the Livestock and Fish Resource Development office develops a strategy to help the community's illiterate members benefit more from the use of contemporary hive beekeeping technologies, develops a strategy to benefit farmers who have large land sizes with modern hive beekeeping technology, establishes extension contact with farmers before technology innovation leads to better adoption of technology, and strongly advises to link a strategy with micro-enterprises. Promotional activities focused on preventing the access to the market of respondents that must ensure their active participation in adoption.

Prevalence and risk factors of wax moth in bee colonies in the Central and Central-West regions of Burkina Faso: pilot study

Beekeeping is a very old practice in Burkina Faso and has many advantages, including the availability of honey resources, of endogenous knowledge and support from public policies. However, it faces challenges, including health problems, which are poorly documented. This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May 2019 in the Central and Central-west regions of Burkina Faso to determine the prevalence and risk factors of wax moth in bee colonies. A total of 200 modern hives were visited of which 106 were colonized or previously colonized. Methods of observation and inspection of the hives were used to search for witnesses of the wax moth infestation: eggs, larvae, pupae cocoons, woven silk cloth, gallery in wax or adult butterflies. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on beekeepers and apiaries characteristics. An inspection sheet was used to record observations made during the inspection of the hives. The results revealed that the average size was 18 hives by apiary. Hives used were Kenyan, Dadant, and rectangular frame hives with a colonization rate of 53%. The overall prevalence of wax moth was 23.6% [15.5-31.7%]. Other predators/pests were observed in 43.4% of the hives, the main ones being beetles (25.5%) and ants (17%). The analysis of the radio adjusted odds ratio showed the absence of risk factors among the modalities of the studied variables. In view of the results of this pilot study, more extensive studies could be carried out to have a better understanding of the epidemiology of the infestation and its possible impact that it can have on honey production.