Abstract

The study was carried out in Hadiya zone to asses honey production systems, challenges and opportunities in the study area. A total of 196 farmers were selected randomly and interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. The result shows most (90.7%) of the beekeepers in the study area have owned only traditional beehives. The average honey yield from traditional, transitional and frame hive was 3.04 ±0.92, 4.9±1.12 and 8.2±2.62 kg/year/hive respectively. There was significance difference (P<0.05) in honey yield per hive/year from traditional hives while there was no significant difference observed (P>0.05) transitional and moveable frame hive between Woredas. Pesticides and herbicides application, shortage of bee forage, presence of pests and predators and shortage of water were found to be the most important constraints of beekeeping in the study area. Despite all the constraints, there is a great potential to increase the production and quality of honey in the district. Strong extension and technical intervention, proper pesticides application, establishing beekeepers cooperative and enhancing bee forage plantation through introducing multi-purpose trees should be encouraged to increase honey production and income of beekeepers in the study area.

Key words: Beekeepers, colony, challenges, honey production.