WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Assessment of honey bee production and management practices in humbo

woreda, wolaita zone Ethiopia

Prepared By: Adey Alameraw

Advisor: Mr.Endalkachew (Msc.)

A Research Submitted To Biology Department in Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for Bachelor of Science (Bsc.) Degree in Biology.

January, 2025
Wolita Sodo, Ethiopia
 Acknowledgment
First and from most, I would like to extend our profound thanks to advisor Mr.Endalkachew (Msc.)
for his unreserved guidance, critical comments and invaluable technical assistance made throughout
the study.

Next I would like to thank my family who gave us more support by financial and typing all the way
through on our writing the study. Lastly, I would like to acknowledge Humbo woreda honey bee
keepers, and agriculture professionals

i
 Table of Content
Contents Page
Acknowledgment .................................................................................................................................. i
List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................... iv
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................... v
Abstracts.............................................................................................................................................. vi
CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................................. 1
1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Background of study .................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Research questions ..................................................................................................................... 3
1.4 objectives of the study ................................................................................................................ 3
1.4.1 General objectives of the study............................................................................................ 3
1.4.2 Specific objectives of the study ........................................................................................... 3
1.5 Significance of the study ............................................................................................................ 3
1.6 Scope of the study ...................................................................................................................... 3
1.7 organization of the study ............................................................................................................ 4
CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................................. 5
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ....................................................................................... 5
2.1 History of honey bee production ................................................................................................ 5
2.1.1. World Honey bee Production and honey Marketing Overview ......................................... 5
2.1.2. African Beekeeping Practices ................................................................................................ 5
2.1.3. Overview of Honey bee production in Ethiopia ................................................................. 6
2.2. System of Honey bee Production in Ethiopia. .......................................................................... 7
2.2.1. Traditional beekeeping ....................................................................................................... 7
2.2.2 Modern system of beekeeping ............................................................................................. 7
2.3. Honey Bee Management Practices ............................................................................................ 8
2.3.1. Placement of honeybee colonies ......................................................................................... 8
2.3.2. Colony inspections.............................................................................................................. 8
2.3.3. Traditional way of swarm control....................................................................................... 9
2.3.4. Honey bee feeding practice and control absconding .......................................................... 9
2.3.5. Floral calendar of honeybee plants ................................................................................... 10
CHAPTE RTHREE............................................................................................................................ 11
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 11

ii
 3.1 Research design ........................................................................................................................ 11
3.2 Source of data ........................................................................................................................... 11
3.2.1 Questionnaire ..................................................................................................................... 11
3.2.2 Interview ............................................................................................................................ 11
3.3 Population size and sampling techniques ................................................................................. 11
3.4 Data collection tool .................................................................................................................. 12
3.5 Methods of data analysis .......................................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER FOUR .............................................................................................................................. 13
4. Result and Discussion .................................................................................................................... 13
4.1 Result ........................................................................................................................................ 13
4.2 Rainy and summer season hive management ........................................................................... 15
4.3. Frequency of honey harvesting in Humbo woreda ................................................................. 16
4.4. Major predators and parasites of honey bee in Humbo woreda .............................................. 17
4.5 Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 17
CHAPTER FIVE................................................................................................................................ 19
5. Conclusion and recommendations ................................................................................................. 19
5.1 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 19
5.2 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 19
Reference ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Appendix ............................................................................................................................................ 22

iii
List of Tables
Table 1: Types and quantities of beehives owned respondent ........................................................... 13
Table 2: Average hive number and productivity of honey in Humbo woreda .................................. 13
Table 3: Trend of increasing and decreasing beekeeping practice in Humbo woreda ...................... 13
Table 4: Reasons of increasing beekeeping practice in Humbo woreda............................................ 14
Table 5: Reasons of decreasing beekeeping practice in Humbo woreda ........................................... 14
Table 6: Rainy and summer season hive management practice in Humbo woreda ........................... 15
Table 7: Rainy and summer season feed management practice ......................................................... 15
Table 8: Winter season hive management practice in humbo woreda ............................................... 16
Table 9: Frequency of honey harvesting in Humbo woreda .............................................................. 16
Table 10: Major predators and parasites of honey be in Humbo woreda .......................................... 17

iv
 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
CSA Central Statistical Agency

ETB Ethiopian Birr

EU European Union

EARO Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GDS Global Development Solutions

GOs Governmental Organizations

MoRAD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations

v
 Abstracts
This paper studied the assessment of honey be production and its management in Humbo woreda.
35 respondents were selected by using simple round sampling technique. Semi Structured
questionnaire where designed to sample opinion of respondents. Data were collect by using
pretesting questionnaire, analyzed, and presented by table. Results were tabulated by percentage
and rank 89% respondent were found increasing their honey beekeeping farming practice and good
source of income was found as the main reason to increase their practice whereas 11% respondent
were decreasing their enterprise and Shortage of forage was found as the main reason to decrease
their practice. Majority of the farmer (42.8%) to protect the hive from rainy and summer season
whereas feeding with pollen is adopte by most of the farmer (57.14%) during rainy and summer
season adoptedhive-covering practice. Hive covering with jute sacs and straw is founded most
adopted practice (60%) to protect the bee colonies during winter season. Commercial bee keepers
having more number of bee hives and migrate their beehives for foraging in different places outside
the valley were found 3 times honey harvesting whereas two times harvesting was the first and for
most found by beekeepers rearing Apismilifera. Ants has found as the major predator, which uses to
kill and eat the honeybee. Similarly, Bee-eater birds locally called Dum chara had been ranked as a
second major predator followed by lizards and finally the parasites named Mites ranked as 4th
major.

Keywords: Bees, honey, Management, Predators, Production

vi
 CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of study

The domestic honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) is an insect, (Hymenoptera, Apoidea). At present,
Honey bees are considered to constitute one of the most complex societies among invertebrates,
with a strict caste division and a highly developed communication capacities. Caste and sexual
dimorphism are well pronounced, so that within the colony we can easily distinguish the queen
bee, the drones and the worker bees. The queen bee, characterized by a well-developed
abdomen, is the only fertile female of the colony, mating once in life with different drones. The
female progeny will origin from fecundated eggs, whereas non fecundated eggs will give origin
to males. All the other females in the colony are worker bees. They accomplish different tasks
through their life, depending on age and colony necessity (Michener, 1975). Beekeeping or
apiculture entails the rearing or keeping of bees with the aim of exploiting its products (such as
honey, pollen, wax, propolis and brood) (Onwumere, et al., 2012).

Beekeeping in Ethiopia is a long-standing agricultural practice. It has been exercised as sideline

activity by many of the rural farming communities for its honey and beeswax production that
contributes to income generation (MoARD, 2010). It also provides job opportunity in the sector.

In Ethiopia over 10 million honeybee colonies and has been considered the heart of honey and
bees wax production in Africa (MoARD, 2010 and Tessega Belie, 2009).Due to its wide
climatic and edaphic variability, Ethiopia is a home to some of the most diverse flora and fauna
in Africa that provide surplus nectar and pollen source to foraging bee colonies Tessega Belie,
(2009). Despite the favorable agro ecology for honey production and the number of bee
colonies the country is endowed with, the level of honey production and productivity in the
country is remain low. One of the prominent factors for this low honey and productivity is
traditional hives.
In Wolita Zone Humbo district in particular, has diversified vegetation and cultivated crops
which are suitable for beekeeping activities. In the district, a large proportion of inaccessible
lands for agriculture is covered with various types of trees and shrubs which bear flowers in a
different season which shows the district's potential for beekeeping activity (Tessega, 2009).
Livestock, poultry, and honeybees are the major indicators of the wealth of the farming
communities in Bure district. However, the well-being of honeybees is affected by natural

1
enemies (pests and predators) and the indiscriminate utilization of agrochemicals such as
fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides (Demeke G et al., 2020).

Bee management study is important to identify problems and come up with possible solutions
relevant to the problems and to formulate an appropriate development plan. In 2009, there was
documented information about honeybee production and marketing systems, constraints and
opportunities in Humbo district (Tessega, 2009) but things are changed over time. Hence,
identifying bee management practices and prioritizing the major available constraints and
suggesting possible intervention areas are the first steps towards any development plan in the
apiculture sub-sector.

But bee production and management in Ethiopia are facing a range of challenges including bee
disease such as Nosema, wax moth, fungal, viral and bacterial disease, bee pests, predators,
indiscriminate use of pesticides and herbicides, pathogens and poor extension services, absence
of coordination between research extension and farmers, and inadequate research institutions to
address the problems pesticide impacts that stifle the beekeeping sector. Moreover,
indiscriminate use of pesticides and herbicides has negative effects on the environment and the
life of all pollinating insects (Amsalu Bezabeh et al., 2012). Therefore, in this study will assess
honey bee production and management practices in humbo woreda, wolaita zone Ethiopia.

1.2 Statement of the problem

In Bee production and management is a traditionally well-established household activity in almost

all parts of the country. But, the benefit from the sub sector to the nation as well as to the
beekeepers, traders, processors and exporter is not satisfactory (Beyene and David, 2007).
In Ethiopia there are many problems in the bee production and management sub sector. Those
include the behaviors of bees, lack of skilled manpower and training institutions, low level of
technology used, high price of improved beekeeping technologies, drought and deforestation of
natural vegetation, poor postharvest management of beehive products and marketing constraints,
indiscriminate application of agrochemicals, honeybee disease, pest and predators, poor extension
services, absence of coordination between research extension and farmers, shortage of records and
up to date information, and inadequate research institutions to address the problems. Nevertheless,
all these problems may not be constraints to all parts of the country and may not be equally pressing
to every place. (HBRC, 1997; Ayalew, 2001; Edessa, 2005). Due existence of those Problems, the
honey sub sector production and productivity is low and it is now contributing much lower than its
potential to the regional and national economy. Even if the intervention of the government to

2
minimize the sub sector constraints is taken as a good practice, the beekeepers are not still
producing the amount what they are supposed to produce (Gidey and Mekonen, 2010). In most
cases, beekeeping has remained traditional and never rewarding. The above problems are more
widely happen in humbo woreda of wolaita zone there for I will try to assess the practice of hony
bee production and management in order to have effective product from them.

1.3 Research questions

 What mechanisms used in honey bee production practices in Humbo district?

 What are the major of bee production and management in the area?
 How we explore beekeepers understanding on existing honeybee major constraints?

1.4 objectives of the study

1.4.1 General objectives of the study

The general objectives of the study will to assess honey bee production and management practices
in humbo woreda, wolaita zone Ethiopia

1.4.2 Specific objectives of the study

The specific objectives of the study are:-
 To assess honey bee production practices in Humbo district.
 To identify major constraints of honey bee production in the area.
 To explore beekeepers understanding on existing honeybee major constraints.
1.5 Significance of the study

This study is believed to be significant in the following ways:

 The findings of this study will provide base line information to the concerned bodies like
government officials, non-governmental organizations, DA and farmers to give due attention
for the solutions of the existing constraints related with the honey productivity and
beekeeping.
 The results of the study will motivate other researchers to carry out further studies.

1.6 Scope of the study

For the reason that, the research on a large basis needs much funds as well as time and manpower
the study will conducted in South eastern part of Ethiopia, South Ethiopia regional State, Wolita

3
zone, Humbo district. This study focuses on major constraints within bee production and
management practice.

1.7 organization of the study

The Research will be organized into five chapters, where chapter one deals about introduction.
Moreover, it included a background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study,
significance of the study and scope of the study. Chapter two, literature review: and has includes
prior research done and theoretical review of bee production and management. Chapter three: this
includes research methodology, research design, data source and collection methods, sampling
design and technique and method of data analysis and presentation. Chapter four: includes data
analysis and presentation of the study and the last chapter five, includes finding conclusion and
recommendation, this chapter discusses the conclusion that are drawn from the finding of the study
and based on this the researcher gives recommendation.

4
 CHAPTER TWO

2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 History of honey bee production

2.1.1. World Honey bee Production and honey Marketing Overview

Honeybees are essential organisms that contribute to global nutrition and food security and provide
large ecosystem services. However, dramatic increase in abnormal honeybee colony decline in
contemporary beekeeping has brought about extensive research and glowed public interest in
honeybee health (Neuman, 2009; Genersch et al., 2010; Rohr et al., 2013). The decline in honeybee
numbers is alarming given their important role in ecosystem services and diversification of income
(Neumann and Carreck 2010; Vanbergen et al., 2013).
Starting in late 2006, commercial migratory beekeepers along the East Coast of the United States
began reporting sharp declines in their honeybee colonies (OIE, 2011). Beekeeping in most of the
states has been affected (Laurent et al., 2015). In the winters of 2007/2008 and 2006/2007 alone, the
drop in the number of managed honeybee colonies was estimated to 31.8% and 35.8% respectively
(Bianco et al., 2014).
The annual colony losses have created problems and bee pollination services have severely
hampered, specially, in the western regions (Paudel et al., 2015). Recent studies predict the
phenomenon of decline in bee numbers is not restricted to be the problem of western region alone
(Jacquetta, 2013). It have been suggested that colony losses do occur in Africa at comparable levels
like that of Europe or North America (Wanjama et al., (2016). It has also been noted that bee
population in East Africa is on the decline (Musyimi , 2014).
World honey production is estimated to 1.4 million tons, in the year 2006 (CBI, 2008), and the
leading producers according to their production shares are China (22%), the USA (6%), Argentina
(6%) and Turkey (5%). According to FAO (2005) estimate, Ethiopia ranked 10th in honey
production in the world. According to MoARD (2003), Ethiopia accounts for about 23.58% of the
total African and 2.13% of the world honey production.

2.1.2. African Beekeeping Practices

Beekeeping in Africa is mostly carried out using traditional methods. In these methods, beehives are
made out of logs, bark, reeds, gourds and pots among other materials. The enterprise is quite
adaptable to various environments and circumstances although farmers are unable to access better
markets due to the poor quality and low quantity of honey produced.

5
Beekeeping is a source of food (e.g. honey, pollen and brood), raw materials for various industries
(e.g. beeswax candles, lubricants), medicine (honey, propolis, beeswax, bee venom) and provides
income for beekeepers (James .A, 2007). Most of African honey is harvested by smallholder
farmers, and the selling of bee products is one of the feasible practices which contribute to get out
of poverty (Bee for development, 2006).
A study from Tanzania shows beekeeping activities involved both genders at different stages of
honey and beeswax processing and marketing. Traditionally, men are responsible for honey
harvesting which is normally carried out at night because they are scared of honey bees during the
day (Lalika, 2008).
Beekeeping can add to the livelihoods of many different sectors within a society including village
and urban traders, carpenters who make hives and stands, tailors who make veils, clothing and
gloves and those who make and sell tools and containers (Brad, 2003). East African nations export
tremendous quantities of wax. Ethiopia and Tanzania produce about2.5% and 1.15% of total world
honey production, respectively. Keeping bees in beehives as practiced in Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, is
not well known in other part of Africa (Hussein, 2000).

2.1.3. Overview of Honey bee production in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia currently, bee keeping is being exercised traditional (Kassaye, 1990). It is characterized
mainly by forest beekeeping that is common in forest covered South and Southwest Ethiopia and
back yard beekeeping which is practiced in majority of the country (Nuru, 2007). The productivity
of traditional hives is extremely low and the average yield is only about 5–8kg/per colony/per
annum (MOARD 2007).
Even though it is one of the important and oldest farming activities in the country, there are no
available records, which confirm when and where beekeeping was first started. Extension activities
on beekeeping started in Ethiopia in 1978 (Melaku Girma et al., 2008). Since then, considerable
efforts have been made to improve apiculture production through training, introduction of new
technologies, production and distribution of equipment and institutional capacity building at the
then Holeta Beekeeping Training Center (MOARD,2008).
Apiculture is practiced as an integral part of farming activities. It is also a source of additional
income for urban communities. Other than areas with extreme climatic conditions, beekeeping is
common in every village and at virtually all smallholder farms. Total honey production in 2008/9 is
estimated at 39,650 tons and there are three different hive types by which the honey is produced:
traditional, transitional (intermediate) and movable frame hives.
There are 5,013,848 traditional, 34,552 transitional and 100,843 frames hives in Ethiopia (GDS,
2009). Ninety-three percent of honey production comes from traditional hives. Oromia, Amhara,

6
Southern Nation Nationalities and People (SNNP), and Tigray are the major honey producing
regions with production quantities of 15,492 tons, 10,834 tons, 5, 847 tons and 3904.6 tons,
respectively, (GDS, 2009).
One of the improved beekeeping practices is a transitional beekeeping. It is a type of beekeeping
intermediate between traditional and modern beekeeping methods. Generally, top bar hive is a
single story long box with slopping sidewalls inward toward the bottom (forming an angle of 1150
with the floor) and covered with bars of fixed width, 32 mm for east African honeybees (Segeren,
1995; Nicola, 2002 and Tessega Belie, 2009).

2.2. System of Honey bee Production in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is blessed with plenty of water resources and a range of honeybee floras, which make
productive ground for the development of beekeeping. Honey hunting and beekeeping have been
practiced in the country for the exploitation of honey. In areas where wild colonies of bees living in
hollow trees and caves are found, honey hunting is still a common practice in Ethiopia.
Presently, in Ethiopia Traditional, Transitional and Modern beekeeping methods are exercised.

2.2.1. Traditional beekeeping

Traditional beekeeping is the oldest and the richest practice, which has been carried out by the
people for thousands of years in Ethiopia. This beekeeping practice is extensive and closely tied to
swarm management: beehives are hung up in trees to catch swarms and are then transferred and
placed in the backyards with some kinds of hive sheds that protects them from the hot temperature
and rain. Traditional beekeeping is of two types: forest beekeeping and backyard beekeeping. In
some places, especially in the western and southern parts of the country, forest beekeeping by
hanging a number of traditional hives on trees is widely practiced. In other most parts of the country
backyard beekeeping with relatively better management is common (Nuru, 2002).

2.2.2 Modern system of beekeeping

Modern beekeeping methods intend to gain the maximum honey, season after season, without
harming bees (Nicola, 2002). Modern movable- frame hive consists of precisely made rectangular
box hives (hive bodies) superimposed one above the other in a tier. The number of boxes is varied
seasonally according to the population size of bees. Practical movable- frame hive was invented in
1851 by Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth in U.S.A. (Crane, 1976; Vivian, 1985). Later on different
countries developed their own movable frame hives (for instance Zander, Dadant) and Langstroth
was the prototype of movable frame hives used today. In many countries Langstroth hive boxes
have proved to be convenient for handling and management.

7
As reported by, HBRC (1997) these box hives have an advantage over the others in the volume and
quality of honey harvested (averagely 15-20 kg/year and in potential areas up to 50-60 kg
harvested). Moreover, the hives allows swarm control through supering and colony management, it
is easy to transport and allows the use of higher level technologies. However, equipment in this
beekeeping system are relatively expensive, require skilled manpower, very less wax production
only 1-2% of the honey yield Gezahegne Tadesse (2001) and needs very specific precaution.

2.3. Honey Bee Management Practices

Ethiopia is blessed with adequate water resources and various honeybee floras, which create fertile
ground for the development of beekeeping practices. Honey hunting and beekeeping have been
practiced in the country for the exploitation of honey from different hive types. In places where
wild colonies of bees living in hollow trees and caves are found, honey hunting is still a common
practice in Ethiopia (Tessega, 2009).
The successful survival of managed honeybee colonies is often affected by the practice that
beekeepers use to solve problems in the colony (e.g., pests and diseases) and to achieve production
goals (e.g., honey production, pollination services).
Honeybee hive management issues include placement of bee colonies in a suitable site, keeping
them disease free; guarding the hive against external predators; and maintaining or increasing bee
population and honey production. Diseases and predators can be managed with proper hive
inspection and approved treatments of hives (Alemayehu, 2011).

2.3.1. Placement of honeybee colonies

The majority of the beekeepers was keeping their bees in the backyard, under the roof, or hanging
on trees near the homestead and in a separate house constructed for bee colonies. Such apiary sites
are suitable for daily follow-up activities of beekeeping. Keeping honeybee colonies under the roof
of the outside part of the house wall and in the backyard makes the inspection of the colony and
other hive management easier as compared with that of “tree apiaries”(Alemayehu, 2011).

2.3.2. Colony inspections

Hive inspection by opening the hive is not a common activity in traditional beekeeping. Internal
hive inspection is undertaken during honey harvesting, swarming, and when colonies are attacked
by pests. This was presumably because of fear of being stung, the risk of the colony absconding,
lack of time, and lack of awareness of the value of doing so (Kerealem et al. 2009). Moreover,

8
beekeepers perform external inspection and also clean their apiary to prevent ants and other insect
pests from getting access to hives” (Alemayehu, 2011).

2.3.3. Traditional way of swarm control

Reproductive swarming is the natural instinctive behavior of honeybees to reproduce; however,

control of reproductive swarming is a very important activity of honeybee management in order to
increase honey yield per hive. The beekeepers practices catching of the swarms honeybees by
hanging bait hive on the tree. They spray soil or water on the swarm then catch the queen and
putting in the traditional queen cage made up of 'shembeko' (Arundodonax L. ) and put the caged
queen into the hive. The queen stayed in the queen cage for 3 to 5 days and after the bees
accustomed to the new hive, the queen was released (Workneh, 2011). The most frequent ways of
controlling reproductive swarming by the beekeeper were the removal of a queen cell, killing the
queen of the swarm and splitting of honeybee colony to its mother, suppering, using a large volume
of a hive, as the colony increase and killing the new emerged queen (Workneh, 2011).

2.3.4. Honey bee feeding practice and control absconding

The management of honeybees is very minimal. Honeybee colonies naturally sustain themselves
and produce honey by foraging from natural and cultivated crops in all possible radiuses from their
nests. According to Alemayehu (2011), farmers who have modern beehives did not manage them
properly. Usually, absconding occurs as a result of a shortage of food or reduction in the honey
flow, disturbance of the colony, either by pests, predators, or even by the beekeeper (Segeren,
2004).
Bad management by the beekeepers: excessive use of smoking during harvest and destructive ways
of the honey harvest, the beekeepers might use unsuitable hives (too big, too humid, bad smell) and
unsuitable places (too much shade, no shelter from rain or excessive heat, and exposed all time to
the sun). The rate of hive absconding is reported to be high, especially following harvest. Moreover,
honey bee strains like Apis cerana and tropical Apis mellifera are much more prone to absconding
(Segeren, 2004).
Absconding is usually observed at mid-day usually in October (Abebe et al., 2009). It refers to the
sudden leaving of the whole colony from a hive while migration is the seasonal movement of bees
from one agro-ecology to another as a survival strategy. Shortage of bee forage causes the honeybee
colony to migrate to areas where resources are available for their survival (Workneh, 2011). The
existence of honeybee pests and predators and the off-flowering of honey bee plants ultimately

9
resulted in frequent absconding of colonies and high migratory tendencies (Getachew, 2018). The
success or failure of beekeeping with the common honeybee is based on largely the ability of the
beekeeper to take suitable measures to control diseases, and natural enemies of insects, birds and
mammals affecting bees (Abebe et al., 2009).

2.3.5. Floral calendar of honeybee plants

A floral calendar for beekeeping is a timetable that indicates to the beekeepers the approximate date
and duration of the blossoming periods of the important honey and pollen plants (Diver 2002). The
distribution and type of honeybee plants as well as their flowering duration vary from one place to
another place due to variations in topography, climate, and farming practices. Hence, every area
has its own honey flow and floral dearth periods of short or long duration and this knowledge of bee
flora helps in the effective management of bee colonies during such periods (Bista and Shivakoti,
2001).
According to Apimondia Newsletter (2017), Ethiopia has different agro-ecology and rich botanical
diversity making it favorable for beekeeping activity that has been culturally practiced for centuries.
Over 500 honey plants both indigenous and exotic origin have been described and illustrate as bee
flora (Hailemichael, 2018). Not all plant species are however equally good for beekeeping practice.
Some supply both nectar and pollen abundantly when in the flower and others still provides nectar
or pollens for their brood rearing (Hailemichael, 2018).

10
 CHAPTE RTHREE

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research design

The study is design to assess the honey bee production and management practices in humbo
woreda, wolaita zone Ethiopia. In order to study & assess the rotten factors the study used
descriptive survey methods which includes qualitative & quantitative research design.

3.2 Source of data

The source of data for this study was using both primary & secondary source of data. Primary data
was gathered from Humbo district community farmers and agriculture sector experts through
questioner, interview & field observation. Whereas secondary source of data were gather from
official statistic sources; such as documents about bee keeping of the study area.

3.2.1 Questionnaire

Both closed and open ended questionnaire was employing to collect quantitative and qualitative
data from selected samples. This is because questionnaire is convenient to acquire necessary
information from large number of study subject with short period of time. Furthermore, it makes
possible to save time and expense and also provides a high proportion of usable response (Best &
Kahn, 2003).

3.2.2 Interview

Semi-structured interview was using to gather in-depth qualitative data from Humbo district
society. Employing semi-structured interview for the above participants is an immense importance.
Because interview is greatest potential to release more in-depth information, provide opportunity to
observe non-verbal behavior of respondents, gives opportunities for clearing up misunderstandings,
as well as it can be adjusted to meet many diverse situations.

3.3 Population size and sampling techniques

The total number of the population in study area is about 630 which are practicing in agriculture
activities of those farmers 490 of them are males & 140 are females. The study will use 20 males’
farmers & 15 females. The sample study population is selected in random sampling techniques that
mean by using lottery system. Totally 35 farmers were selected for the study.

11
3.4 Data collection tool
In order to gather data, the questioner was translating to Amharic & use assistance to interpret
Wolitan language. Then the questions were distributed normally to the respondents & after they
were give their own answer. Next interview methods will use to get more tangible data.
Additionally; observation method was takes place to collect data about the study.

3.5 Methods of data analysis

In this study both qualitative & quantitative data analysis techniques will be employed. Data which
will be gathering from closed-ended questionnaire will be organized in the form of table, quantified
and analysis quantitatively uses percentages. In the other hand, information was gathered in
interview & open ended questions. This section explains the methodology used in connection to
research design justifications, data sources and collection methods, sample procedures, and data
analysis and presentation methods.

12
 CHAPTER FOUR
4. Result and Discussion

4.1 Result

Table 1: Types and quantities of beehives owned respondent

variable Number of respondents percentage

Traditional 25 71.4%

Transitional 8 22%

modern 3 8.5%

In above table 1 shows that 71.4% of respondents were responded the beekeeper or farmer
used the traditional hive followed by transitional 22% and 8.5% of modern hive.

Table 2: Average hive number and productivity of honey in Humbo woreda

variable Number of hive Productivity in Kg per hive rank

Traditional 74 3kg/hive 3𝑟𝑑

Transitional 23 9kg/hive 2𝑛𝑑

modern 10 15kg/hive 1𝑠𝑡

Source: own survey, 2024

Table 2: above Average hive number and productivity of honey in Humbo woreda 2016/17. The
hive number 74 is traditional type of hive and the most beekeeper used in study area but ranked in
last by its productivity. The number of modern hive is 10 which the least number of beekeepers
used but it has highest productive type of hive.

Table 3: Trend of increasing and decreasing beekeeping practice in Humbo woreda

Trend Respondents Percentage

Increasing 31 89%

Decreasing 4 11%

Source: own survey, 2024

13
In above table -3 89% of the respondents were found increasing their beekeeping practice
and 11% of the respondents decreasing trend of beekeeping in Humbo woreda.

Table 4: Reasons of increasing beekeeping practice in Humbo woreda

S.N Reasons of increasing Number of respondent

percentage rank

1 Government awareness creation 7 20% 3𝑟𝑑

2 Market demand 8 22.3% 2𝑛𝑑

3 Foraging area 3 8.6% 4𝑡ℎ

4 Good source of income 17 48.6% 1𝑠𝑡

Source: own survey, 2024

According to table 4 the respondents, the main reason behind the increase of practice was ranked
where good source of income was found as the main reason to increase their practice. Market
demand ranked as 2nd government awareness creation, allowances on tools, equipment, technical
assistance and other services ranked as 3rd and foraging areas was ranked as least reason of the
respondents which means the majority of the respondents had not been satisfied with the foraging
areas needed for the honey bees.

Table 5: Reasons of decreasing beekeeping practice in Humbo woreda

S.N Reasons of decreasing Number of respondent percentage rank

1 Shortage of forage 14 40% 1𝑠𝑡

2 Predators and diseases 7 20% 3𝑟𝑑

3 Poor management 10 28.6% 2𝑛𝑑

4 marketing 4 11.4% 4𝑡ℎ

Source: own survey, 2024

14
According to the farmers, the main reason behind this decrement had been tabulated above table 5
where shortage of forage for bees was the main cause to decrease their beekeeping farming practice
and this finding agree with who reported shortage of forage and ranked 1𝑠𝑡and the second reason
was poor managements as the reason of decreasing honey bee colony. Disease predators and its
controlled measures were found as third reason to decrease their beekeeping farming practice.

4.2 Rainy and summer season hive management

Table 6: Rainy and summer season hive management practice in Humbo woreda
S.N Hive management practice Number of respondent percentage
1 Hive cleaning 10 28.6%
2 Hive covering 15 42.8%
3 Repairing and maintenance 4 11.4%
4 Shade replacement 6 17.14%
Source: own survey, 2024

From the above table 6 The study hive covering Practice was adopted by majority of the farmers
(42.8%) for summer and rainy season hive management in beekeeping which was consistent with
the result of research done by in which majority of the respondents responded covering the whole
parts of hive with jastapata, water soaked jute etc (Pokhrel, 2004), to protect from the drop off
water droplet from rain, followed by hive cleaning(28.6%, Shade replacement(17.14%), Repair
and maintenance Only few respondents i.e. 11.4% who were rearing Apismillifera responded to
hive management during summer and rainy season.

Table 7: Rainy and summer season feed management practice

S.N Feed management Number of respondents percentage

1 Sugar solution 6 17.14%
2 pollen 20 57.14%
3 other 7 20%
4 Not apply 2 5.7%
Source: own survey, 2024

In the above table, that most of the respondent (57.14%) fed their colonies with pollen like
soya bean floor, chick pea flowers of maize or maize pollen followed by others for searching
in forest and somewhere constitutes (20%), sugar solution constitutes (17.14%) and only 5.7

15
% responded not apply to feed management. Pollen its items had been widely used in Humbo
woreda beekeeping farmers for feed management during summer and rainy season.

Table 8: Winter season hive management practice in humbo woreda

S.N Hive management practice Number of respondents percentage
1 Hive covering 21 60%
2 hive cleaning 5 14.3%
3 other 8 22.8%
4 Not apply 1 2.8%
Source: own survey, 2024

It was found that most of the respondent (60%) adopted to hive covering by the jute sacs and
straw to protect the bee colonies which is in consistent with the previous result done by
where many of the respondent focused on hive covering to protect the bee colonies rather
than other (Pokhrel, 2004). Followed other management activities such as transfer to sunny
areas, using self-made hive and oxalic acid placement to varroa control (22.8%) and 14.3%
& 2.8% responded to hive cleaning not apply respectively winter season management
activities.

4.3. Frequency of honey harvesting in Humbo woreda

Farmers harvesting three and more times in a year were found maximum (62.8%). This
includes those commercial bee farms of Apismillifera having comparatively more number of
hives and used to take for foraging outside the district to different places.

Table 9: Frequency of honey harvesting in Humbo woreda

S.N Frequency honey harvesting per year Number of respondents percentage

1 One times 5 14.3%

2 Two time 22 62.8%

3 Three times 8 22.8%

4 Four times - -

Source: own survey, 2024

16
According to table 9 above the respondent if the weathers condition favors and feels sound a
year round then a hive can be harvested up to 3 times a year during winter and spring. 62.8%
respondent was harvesting two times a year (Pokhrel, 2009). this include those commercial
farms of Apismillifera having comparatively lesser number of hives and took to forage inside
the valley and only 14.3% respondent were found harvesting one times in year.

4.4. Major predators and parasites of honey bee in Humbo woreda

Table 10: Major predators and parasites of honey be in Humbo woreda
S.N Predators and parasites percentage rank

1 Ants 34.32% 1𝑠𝑡

2 Bees eater birds 27.25% 2𝑛𝑑

3 Mites 16.03% 3𝑟𝑑

4 Lizards 12.4% 4𝑡ℎ

Source: own survey, 2024

According to table 10 above the major five predators and parasites found which declining the
honey productions in the Humbo woreda were listed and ranked. Among these Ants had been
found as the major predator which uses to kill and eat the honey bee. Similarly, Bee eater birds
locally called Dum chara had ranked as a second major predator followed by Mites and finally the
parasites named lizards ranked as 4th major.

4.5 Discussion
In Humbo woreda, the hive number 74 is traditional type of hive and the most beekeeper used in
study area but ranked in last by its productivity. The number of modern hive is 10 which the least
number of beekeepers used but it has highest productive type of hive in table 2. The main reason
behind the increase of practice was ranked where good source of income was found as the main
reason to increase their practice.

Market demand ranked as 2nd government awareness creation, allowances on tools, equipment,
technical assistance and other services ranked as 3rd and foraging areas was ranked as least reason
of the respondents which means the majority of the respondents had not been satisfied with the
foraging areas needed for the honey bees in table 4. 6 the study hive covering Practice was adopted
by majority of the farmers (42.8%) for summer and rainy season hive management in beekeeping

17
which was consistent with the result of research done by in which majority of the respondents
responded covering the whole parts of hive with jastapata, water soaked jute etc (Pokhrel, 2004).
According to the respondent in this study if the weathers condition favors and feels sound a
yearround then a hive can be harvested up to 3 times a year during winter and spring. 62.8%
respondent was harvesting two times a year (Pokhrel, 2009).

Among these Ants had been found as the major predator which uses to kill and eat the honey bee.
Similarly, Bee eater birds locally called Dum chara had been ranked as a second major predator in
table 10.

18
 CHAPTER FIVE
5. Conclusion and recommendations
5.1 Conclusion
A study was conducted to study the assessment of honey bee production and its management
of in Humbo woreda. An individual farmer survey was carried out with the help of pre-
structured questionnaire in Humbo woreda. 71.4% of respondents were responded the
beekeeper or farmer used the traditional hive followed by transitional 22% and 8.5% of
modern hive. The hive number 74 is traditional type of hive and the most beekeeper used in
study area but ranked in last by its productivity. Results were tabulated by percentage and
rank 89% respondent were found increasing their honey beekeeping farming practice and
good source of income was found as the main reason to increase their practice whereas 11%
respondent were decreasing their enterprise and Shortage of forage was found as the main
reason to decrease their practice. Hive covering practice was adopted by majority of the
farmer (42.8%) to protect the hive from rainy and summer season whereas feeding with
pollen was adopted by most of the farmer (57.14%) during rainy and summer season. Hive
covering with jute sacs and straw was found most adopted practice (60%) to protect the bee
colonies during winter season. Commercial bee keepers having more number of bee hives
and migrate their beehives for foraging in different places outside the valley were found 3
times honey harvesting whereas two times harvesting was the first and for most found by
beekeepers rearing Apismilifera. Ants had been found as the major predator which uses to
kill and eat the honey bee.
Similarly, Bee eater birds locally called Dum chara had been ranked as a second major predator.

5.2 Recommendations

Based on major findings from pre structured questionaries’ in Assessment of honey bee
production and its management in Humbo woreda was drawn the following recommendations

The woreda government should make awareness creation training on the beekeeping farming
practice and the community might use the modern hive type to keep honey bees and also the
local agricultural professional’s should take part to announce the effective honey bee
production and management practice. Finally the honey beekeeper should protect the hive
and honey bee from predators and parasites.

19
Reference
Addis, G. and B. Malede, 2014.Chemical Analysis of Honey and Major Honey Production
Challenges in and Around Gondar, Ethiopia.Aca. J. Nut. 3 (1).
Adgaba N. (2002). Geographical races of the Honeybees of the Northern Regions of Ethiopia.
The tropical Agriculturalist. The Technical Center forAgriculture and Rural
Cooperation (CTA), International Bee ResearchAssociation (IBRA) and Macmillan,
Malaysia.
Alemayehu K. (2011).Honey bee production practices and honey quality in Silti woreda
.Ethiopia. College of Agriculture and Environmental science Haremaya University.
Amsalu B, Nuru A, Radloff SE, Hepburn HR (2004). Multivariate morphometeric analysis of
honeybees in the Ethiopian region. J Apidologie 35:71–81.
Beyene, T. and D. Phillips, 2007.Ensuring Small Scale Producers in Ethiopia to Achieve
Sustainable and Fair Access to Honey Markets.Pp.64.
Crane, E. (1990). Bees and Beekeeping: Science, Practice and World Resources. Comstock
Publishing Associates (Cornell University Press), Ithaca, New York.
CSA (Central Statistical Authority) (2003) Statistical report on livestock and livestock
products.CSA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Official document.
Diego, G.D., M.N. Jose and C.Q. Lourdes 2005. Effects of water content upon the Galician
honey viscosity. Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food
Chemistry, 4: 949-95.
EIAR (2017) Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research: Livestock and Fisheries Research
Strategies. Poultry, Fisheries, Apiculture and Sericulture. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pp.
153-224.
FAO. (1989): Survey of honeybee diseases and pests in Ethiopia FAO publisher
Gebru YG (2015) Characterization of Beekeeping Systems and Honey Value Chain, and
Effects of Storage Containers and Durations on Physico-Chemical Properties of Honey
in KilteAwlaelo District, Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia. Addis Ababa University, College of
Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture.
Getu A, Birhan M (2014). Chemical analysis of honey and major honey production challenges
in and around Gondar, Ethiopia. Acad J Nutr 3: 6-14.
G. Kritsky, the Tears of Ra, bee keeping in ancient Egypt (oxford, 2015),72.
Haftu, K. Daniel, D.Gebru ,B.Tsegay,G. Guash, A. (2015). Analysis of Honey Bee Production
Opportunities and Challenges in Central Zone of Tigray, Northern

20
 Ethiopia:International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 5, Issue
4, ISSN 2250-3153
IBRA. 1997. (International Bee Research Association). The management of African honeybees
including the design of low cost hives, IBRA, UK. pp.4 -14.
Keralem E, 2005. Honey bee production system, opportunities and challenges in Enebse Sar
Midir Woreda (Amhara Region) and Amaro Special Wereda (Southern Nations, Nationalities
and peoples Region), Ethiopia. M.Sc. thesis presented to Aromaya University 133p.
Martin, E.C. 1976. The use of bees for crop pollination: Dadant and Sons (ed.), The Hive and
the Honey Bee. Dadant and Sons, Inc., Hamilton, Illinois, U.S.A., pp. 579614.
MoARD. 2003. Honey and Beeswax marketing and development. In: Development MoAaR,
editor. Plan 2003. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nebiyu Y, Messele T (2000) Honeybee production in the three Agroecological districts of
Gamo Gofa zone of southern Ethiopia with emphasis on constraints and opportunities.
Agric Biol J N Am 4: 560-567.
Nuru, A., (2007). Atlas of pollen grains of major honeybee flora of Ethiopia. Holeta Bee
Research Centre. Commercial Printing Enterprise. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. pp: 152.
Sahle H, Enbiyale G, Negash A, Neges T (2018) Assessment of Honey Production System,
Constraints and Opportunities in Ethiopia. Pharmacy and Pharmacology of International
Journal, 6(2): 2379- 6367.
Tessega, B., (2009). Honeybee Production and Marketing Systems, Constraints and
opportunities in Burie District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. A Thesis Submitted to the
Department of Animal Science and Technology, School of Graduate Studies Bahirdar
University.
Wedmore ,E.(1955).The accurate determination of the water content of honeys. Taylor and
Francis 24: 197-206.
Yirga, G., Koru, B., Kidane, D., Mebrahatu, A. (2012), Assessment of beekeeping practices in
Asgede Tsimbla district, Northern Ethiopia: Absconding, bee forage and bee
pests.African Journal of Agricultural Research 7, 1–5.

21
 Appendix
Wolita Sodo University

Household Survey Questionnaire

 Honeybee Production and management in Humbo woreda , Ethiopia.

Household survey questionnaire

Instruction: • Introduce yourself before starting the interview. Tell the respondents politely from
where you come and the purpose of the study

• Use pencil

• Put a tick mark for yes or no questions.

I. General Information 1.1. Name of Enumerator _________

1.2. Date of interview____________

1.3. Kebele _____________________

1.4. Village (Gote) ________________________

2. What types and quantities of beehives owned respondent A. traditional B. transitional C. modern

3. What Trend of beekeeping practice A. increasing B. decreasing

4. Reasons of increasing beekeeping practice A. Government awareness creation B. Market demand

C. Foraging area D. Good source of income

5. Reasons of decreasing beekeeping practice A. Shortage of forage B. Predators and diseases C.

Poor management C. marketing

6. Rainy and summer season hive management practice A. Hive cleaning B. Hive covering C.
Repairing and maintenance D. Shade replacement

7. Rainy and summer season feed management practice A. Sugar solution B. pollen C. other D.Not
apply

8. Frequency of honey harvesting in A.One times B.Two time C.Three times D.Four times

Major predators and parasites

22
9. When did you start beekeeping (Years of beekeeping experience)? ___________year (s).

10. Are you aware of improved beekeeping technologies and beekeeping equipment’s?
1.Yes__ 2. No____

11. When did you start utilizing improved beekeeping technologies? Year (s) 12. If yes, what
is the price of one colony?________ ETB

23