Abstract:
The objective of this study was to analyze adoption the adoption and financial returns of
modern beehives in Gera district Jimma zone, in Ethiopia. The study was based on cross
sectional data collected from 197 randomly selected beekeepers selected using two stage
sampling procedures. Descriptive statistics, econometric model and partial budget
technique were employed to analyze the data. Logit model results showed that adoption of
modern beehive is positively and significantly affected by age, education status, income
from other non-farm activities, extension contact, access to training and livestock holding,
while distance from nearest market it affect negatively and significantly. The partial
budgeting result revealed that the yield and per hive net return obtained from modern
beehive is greater, which makes smallholder beekeepers earn three times higher net return
than traditional beehive. Major challenges that hinder modern beehive utilization were
identified. Ranking revealed that honeybee pest and predators, absconding, inaccessibility
of modern beehive and accessories, financial limitation, high cost of modern beehive and
accessories and poor quality of training were the major challenges. Despite all these
challenges, there is an enormous opportunities to enhance the quantity & quality of honey
yield in the district by utilizing modern beehive well. This study suggests that the high
importance of institutional and government support in the areas of education, extension
service, training and infrastructural development (especially market). Therefore, policy
and development interventions should give emphasis to the improvement of such
institutional support system and so as to achieve the adoption practice which increases
production and productivity of small scale farmers.
