Determinants Of House holds Food Security In Adea Berga District, West Sowa Zone, Oromia

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess apiculture practices, opportunities and constraints in Gololcha district, Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia from February to June, 2017. The main objectives of this study were to assess factors affecting honey quality and beeswax production, examine market constraints, identify the opportunities and major beekeeping constraints, and to assess the main problems that contribute to traditional beekeepers to remain in traditional method of apiculture in the study area. Both purposive and random sampling techniques were employed to select kebeles and specific farmer beekeepers, respectively. Accordingly, four Kebele peasant associations such as Borat, LemlemHalila, Kurawada and Kejewa were purposively selected from twenty five Kebeles and 120 sample beekeepers were randomly selected for the formal household survey. Primary data was gathered through formal interview using semi- structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and SPSS version 20 software were employed as analytical tools. The study found that about 96.7% of males and 3.3% of females were engaged in apiculture practices. The descriptive analyses indicated that traditional beekeeping was the dominant system and accounted for about 98.33% in the study area. About 97.5% of beekeepers didn‟t involve in various extension service and packages. The survey result was also found that about 94.17% of farmer beekeepers did not produce beeswax. Honey marketing system is not well developed in the study area due to lack of market information and beekeepers cooperative. The study area has huge potential for beekeeping activity. Among the major opportunities of apiculture in the study area were availability of potential flowering plants, existence and abundance of honey bee colonies, and indigenous beekeepers experience and knowledge. The major challenges that hinder the untapped potential of beekeeping were agro-chemical poisoning, pests and predators, absconding, lack of improved beehive and its accessories, and poor management system and lack of training. The study also identified the main factors that contributed to traditional beekeepers remain in traditional apiculture method in the study area. Integration of apiculture activities with natural resource conservation programs, introducing affordable and appropriate beekeeping technology through training and encouraging of community is recommended.