Assessment of honey production system and beekeeping management practices in Gechi District, Buno Bedelle Zone, south west Oromia Regional state, Ethiopia

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.