The effects of ants on honey production in badabuna kebele, jimma, ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is a potential bee keeping giant having a wide range of ecological zones from desert to mountain rain forests. The country is the largest honey producer in Africa and 10th largest honey producer in the world. Even if Ethiopia is the highest in honey production the degree of bee keeping is very traditional. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence, characteristics and consequences of ants in the production of honey in beddabuna Keble Jimma zone. since the number of individuals in the Red Cross organization in study area is small no need of sample size determination.Therefore,all 30 employees were involved as study population in this study. Questionnaire and interview were conducted to obtain the reliable data from the sampled population. The responses were indicated there were serious influences of ants on honey production in study area.100% of the participants responded that external factor is the major problem in the study area. This has been influenced the yield as well as the quality of honey in the study area. As a solution the respondents put spraying oil and ashes to minimize the problem