TO DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY, COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE, WOLKITE UNIVERSIT

Abstract

The study was conducted in Cheha District of Gurage Zone, with the objective of identifying major constraints and opportunities of honey production using semi structured questioner survey and field observation. Two representative kebeles (one from midland and another from low land) were selected purposively based on beekeeping potential and accessibility, followed by random selection of 30 households perkebele for individual interview. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Average family size in the district is 6.28 ± 1.37 with average of 5.47 ± 1.30 active working member. Majority of the households (63.33%) are in productive age group with education level of primary school and above (63.33%). Largest proportion of honey bee producers (66.67%) are within medium income wealth group with average land holding of 2.33 hectare per household, employing farming activity as main occupation (98.33%).Average colony holding per household is 2.30 ± 2.27, 0.28 ± 0.85, 0.60 ± 1.69 in traditional, transitional and modern hive, respectively. The mean honey yield in the area is 2.94 ± 1.05 kg, 3.84 ± 1.10 kg and 9.09 ± 4.29 kg from traditional, transitional and modern hive, respectively. Most of the farmers (70%) keep honey bee with the objective of producing honey for home consumption.Limited number of farmers (16.67%) have experience to purposively develop bee forage with significantly higher practice in Sisenakebele. The top most important honey bee production constraint are input/material shortage (index = 0.25), feed and water shortage (index = 0.15), colony shortage (index = 0.15), and skill gap (index = 0.15). Largest proportion of educated household, working age group with larger family member, honey production experience, diversified niches for bee flora, increasing demand for honey, high honey market access and presence of different development and research organizations are major opportunity for the future development of the honey production in the area