Analysis of Adoption and Financial returns of Modern Beehive in Gera District, Jimma Zone, Oromia Ethiopia

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.