Abstract

This study was initiated to analyze smallholder beekeepers’ perceptions towards the constraints and benefits of using improved box hive and its profitability compared to traditional beehive in Ahferom district of Tigray region, Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data sources comprising qualitative and quantitative data types were utilized. Primary data were collected by interviewing 130 randomly selected smallholder beekeepers during March to April, 2011. Descriptive statistics and partial budgeting techniques were employed to analyze the data using SPSS-16. The findings revealed that beekeepers perceived that improved box hive is superior in its honey quantity and quality, swarm control, hive durability, avoidance of bee mortality and ease of inspection and management of hive, however, it is constrained by high hive price and unavailability of improved inputs, skilled manpower requirement and low honey market demand compared to traditional beehive. Partial budget and sensitivity analyses implied that adoption of improved box hive technology makes smallholder beekeepers more profitable than traditional beehive and profitable up to 20% variability in inputs cost and output prices. Therefore, the higher profitability and less sensitivity to input cost and output price variability of improved box hive over traditional beehive should be considered by policy-makers and planners of governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in setting their policies and strategies of institutional services development and honey production improvement interventions.

Key words: Perception, profitability, improved box hive, partial budget, sensitivity analysis, smallholder beekeepers.