Abstract:
The study was conducted in Gechi district, Bunobedele zone, south west Oromia regional state,
Ethiopia1, to- assess beekeeping management and its production 2, to identify factors that
influence beekeeping management in the study area. Questionnaires and interviews were used to
collect primary data. Different documents were also reviewed for secondary data A-cross
sectional study, in which 247 samples were included to assess the current beekeeping
management, production potential and production constraints. The result of the study showed
that most (99.6%) of beekeepers, in the study area have owned only traditional hives and
produce honey for home consumption. Majority of the respondent (86.45%) are illiterate. The
bee keeping practice was dominated by male. Despite the production constraints, the area
opportunities’ like existence of large size natural forest due to coffee plantation and artificial
forest attended by government. The main limiting factors in the study area were Ants. To
minimize limiting factors the beekeepers used different indigenous knowledge. With government
side designing the strategies to support the beekeepers through training, help by giving honey
production materials and continuous or sustainable following their participation up to they are
profitable and continue to be done as livelihood .It was recommended that the beekeepers should
be supported by training, with modern hives, planting bee forage, conservation of plants and by
using the available resources effectively.
