WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

DAWURO TARCHA CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE

SENIOR RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL
SCIENCES

Assessment of beekeeping practice and status of Honey production in

Tarcha zuria woreda, Dawuro zone, south west Ethiopia Region

BY Abdata Olani

ID NUMBER: UGR 539361/13

Advisor: Tezera. (Msc) NOVEMBER, 2024

TERCHA, ETHIOPIA
TABLE OF CONTENT

LIST OF ABBREVATIONS.....................................................................................................iii
LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................................iv
CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................1
1.1. Back Ground...................................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem..................................................................................................2
1.3. Objectives of the study....................................................................................................2
1.3.1General objective........................................................................................................2
1.3.2 Specific objectives.....................................................................................................2
1.3.3 Significance of the study area....................................................................................3
CHAPTER TWO.......................................................................................................................4
2. LITRATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................................4
2.1 Honey production system in Ethiopia...............................................................................4
2.1.1 Traditional honey bee production system..................................................................4
2.1.2 Transitional system of beekeeping.............................................................................5
2.1.3 Modern system of beekeeping...................................................................................5
2.2 Importance of bee keeping...............................................................................................6
2.2.1 Honey production......................................................................................................6
2.2.2 Bees wax...................................................................................................................7
2.2.3 Source of immediate cash income.............................................................................7
CHAPTER THREE....................................................................................................................8
3. METHODS AND MATERIALS...........................................................................................8
3.1. Description of the study area...........................................................................................8
3.2. Sampling size and sampling technique............................................................................9
3.3. Data sources and methods of data collection...................................................................9
3.5 Data analysis....................................................................................................................9
4. BUDGET AND TIME.........................................................................................................10
4.1 Budget plan....................................................................................................................10
4.2 TIME..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCE...........................................................................................................................12
APPENDEX.............................................................................................................................14
LIST OF ABBREVATIONS

CAS Central statistical Agency

EARO Ethiopian Agriculture Research Organization

GDP Gross Domestic Production

MoA Ministry of Agriculture

MOARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

SOS Save Our Soul Sahel

SNNPR South Nation Nationality People Region

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 stationary cost...............................................................................................................................10

Table 2 Personal cost to research.............................................................................................................10
Table 3 Budget Summary..........................................................................................................................11
Table 4 Work plan.....................................................................................................................................11
Table 5 placement of hives evaluation.....................................................................................................14
Table 6 Types of hive evaluation..............................................................................................................15
CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Back Ground
Beekeeping in Ethiopia is a long-standing agricultural practice. It has been exercised as a
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 Beekeeping is a very long-standing practice in the farming activities of the southern
regions and it plays a significant as source of additional income and nutrition for subsistence
farmers. It is an integral part of the smallholder farming system. In the region the apicultural
resources are immense particularly in the western part of the region. The natural vegetation
coverage is relatively high, as result, in this area, the honeybee population is dense and
production is relatively high. In the eastern parts of the region, in spite of scarcity of natural
vegetation, large areas of in accessible land for cultivation and livestock grazing covered with
several of bushes and make this part of the region, still to remain potential for beekeeping.
Besides, the beekeeping potentiality of the region is partly attributed to the various cultivated of
oil crops pulse and field flowers which are very ant forage (Tilahun Gebey, 2006).

Beekeeping is an old and important agricultural practice in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has various
ecology and climatic condition, which grows many honeybee floras. This flora makes the
country highly sustainable for sustaining large colonies. There are about 10 million of honey bee
colonies in Ethiopia (Agaba, 2007).Moreover, beekeeping is an appropriate and well accepted
farming technology and it is best suited to extensive range of ecosystems of tropical areas.

Today the colonies of honeybee increases above 10 million with including both feral and hive
bee (Ayalaw, 2000).

In Ethiopia beekeeping is promising non-farm activity for the rural households because
beekeeping in rural areas practiced by traditional honeybee production system in our country
(Mamo, 1973, fitchi and Adimas, 1994). But today farmers begin raring of honey bees using
modern and traditional hive learning from extension workers. This practice increases the yield of
honey and farmers can get more profit (CSA, 2007).

Recently different beekeeping development endeavors have been made by the governmental and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ethiopia. In general on the government side more
attention has given for the promotion of movable hive through the ministry of agriculture and
rural development extension system. Special kind has been allocated and more number of
movable frame hives with expensive beekeeping accessory equipment has been provided with
subside price. On the other hand NGOs his promoting low cost and appropriate hive technologies
for market on entered beekeeper farmer organization has also been initiated and farmed in
different distance (Tilahun Gebey, 2006)

1.2 Statement of the problem

In the current study area of Tercha zuria woreda district the agro ecology high altitudinal range,
the area is characterized by diverse agro-climatic distribution and vegetation cover. This is
suitable for bee keeping practice and honey production and also Beekeeping by its nature doesn’t
need huge investment large size of land and complicated technical knowledge. Beekeeping
strengths and supports the district community livelihoods to become less vulnerable to different
shocks and avert risks. However, the individual poor beekeeping people in the district general
still could not harvest honey to the required amount which in the available needs to the peoples
wants due to less documented information honey beekeeping practice and status of honey
production , the country is generally low in honey, to maximize beekeeping outputs: Therefore
this research proposed to fill and suggest possible solutions against production constraints and
identified some major challenges that are obstacles to product maximization in the study area of
honey production.

1.3. Objectives of the study

1.3.1General objective
 To assess beekeeping practices and status of honey production in Dawuro Zone Tercha
zuria woreda district.

1.3.2 Specific objectives

 To assess on beekeeping practices in study area.
  To assess the status of honey production in study area.
 To assess the potential opportunities of bee keeping in the study area
 To assess constraints of bee keeping in the study area.

1.3.3 Significance of the study area

Ministries of agriculture and agriculture office have also been playing a great role in beekeeping
practice and honey productions. The significance of the study will be to identify problems and
improve our understanding of beekeeping practice and honey production. Useful to develop
appropriate beekeeping development strategy plan for the study area. The study area has place
endowed with diversified flowering plants and suitable whether condition, availability of
extension service at different Kebles, the willingness of the farmer to deal with bees will be very
high. So, this part of area has potentially for beekeeping. By giving full information about the
above things for the honeybee producer to increase honey production.
CHAPTER TWO

2. LITRATURE REVIEW
2.1 Honey production system in Ethiopia
Currently beekeeping is practical based on the level of technologies advancement three types of
beehives are used for honey production in Ethiopia. These are traditional, transitional and
modern hives. A total about 4,601,806 hives exist in the country of which about 95.5% are
traditional, 4.3% are transitional and 0.2% modern hives (Beyene and David, 2007).

2.1.1 Traditional honey bee production system

In Ethiopia, traditional beekeeping is the oldest and richest practices, which have been carried
out by the people for thousands of years. Several million-bee colonies are managed with the
same traditional beekeeping meet holds in almost all part of the country. In addition to traditional
beekeeping forest beekeeping were practice by hanging number of traditional hives especially, in
the western and southern part of the country while backyard beekeeping is keeping bees at home
all inside the house(Central and Northern Ethiopia), it gets better management activities(Alemu,
2000).

Traditional beekeeping is mostly practiced with different type of traditional hives. Most common
type of traditional hives known to have been in use is simple cylindrical types. This hives are
fixed comb type because the combs are attached to the top bar and side of the hive itself and the
beekeeper cannot remove and replace those (MOA, 2000).

In some traditional hives, only one end of the hive could be opened. But in most forms each end
of the cylinder will be fitted with a removal cover. The type of hives and the way of keeping bees
vary from area to area. Based on locally available materials used for construction, the falling
type of hives is found through the country. This include hollowed logs, bark hive, bamboo or red
grass hive, mud hives, animal dung hives, false banana hives (SOS hales 2002). Under Ethiopia
farm management condition, the average amount of crude honey produced from traditional hive
estimated to be 3 Kg/hives/years (Gezahegen, 2001).
2.1.2 Transitional system of beekeeping

Transitional hives, one of the modern hive types being promoted in the country, are the
intermediate step between traditional and frame hives. Transitional hives have a higher honey
yield of the traditional hives as well as provide a mechanism for monitoring the maturity of
honey thus enabling harvest at optimal time. Moreover the ratio of honey to bees wax produced
for transitional hives is similar to that of traditional hives (approximately 90;10).Being a
relatively recent introduction to Ethiopia. The total number of transitional hives in the country is
quite low. Transitional hives in ideas condition can yield 50 kg of honey per year in Kenya
(Baobab, 2002). But under Ethiopia farmer condition, the average amount of crud honey
produced per hive per year would be 12-15 kg (MOA, 2003) and it may reach up to 18 kg
(IVCA, 2009).

Like traditional hive from transitional, hive about 8-10% as much bee wax per kg of honey
obtained per year. Because of too high cost of modern hives and its accessories, many ordinary
beekeepers unable to afforded to adopt such complicated hives. Traditional hives with its relative
advantageous traditional and modern hives could be alternative option in sustainable
development of beekeeping (Sosahel, 1999).

2.1.3 Modern system of beekeeping

Frame hives are modern hives made from wooden planks, standard frame hives have three
compartments each with ten frames with readymade bees wax honey bee combs that enables bee
colonies to start producing honey immediately after being transferred to the hive, frame hives are
good for honey production, but have the lowest bees wax production at only 0.1% of the honey
produced .since honey frame suitable for production of table honey both for local and export
markets. It is currently being promoted vigorously by the government and a number of private
sector processor who have integrated farms (IVCA, 2009)

Modern frame hive consisting precisely made rectangular box hives superimposed one above the
other in artier. The number of box varied seasonally according to population.
Size of colonies. This type of hive is important for obtain maximum honey crop season after
season without harming bees (bahir dare, 2002).

In Ethiopia five type of movable frame hives were introduced at different time and the most
commonly used are zoned and long strophes style hives based on the national estimated, the
average yield of pure honey from modern hives is 15-20kg/year /hives and the amount of bee
wax produced is 1-2% of the honey yield (Gezahege, 2001), but in potential areas up to 50-60kg
harvest of honey/hive/year has been reported (EARO, 2001).

2.2 Importance of bee keeping

Beekeeping plays a significant role in the house holed and national economy of the country .It
serves as a source of additional cash income for hundreds of thousands of farmer beekeepers for
many farmers, beekeeping is a very lucrative business and a high proportion of their annual
income is earned from beekeeping. In general beekeepers of the country are estimated to earn
about [Link] 360-480(us $ 40-45) million annually from the total annual honey production. In
the country, honey selling service to circulate money from the urban people with a relatively
better standard of living to rural people with a relatively lower standard of living. In the south
west parts of the country where there is intact not Ural forests the livelihoods of many ethnic
societies, entirely depend on honey hunting and forest bee keeping (Nuru, 2007).

Beekeeping supports the national economy through foreign exchange earnings. At present bees
waxes is one of the most important agricultural export product and is contributing in the earning
of foreign currency .Beekeeping also plays a significant role in the country food production
through honey bee pollination service of major cultivated crops . Moreover in the country, many
people are engaged in honey trading at different level and also in production and selling of honey
bees test (Nuru, 2007).

2.2.1 Honey production

The cell of the honey bee comb in Ethiopia is mostly produced by farmers as a source of Honey
is semisolid juice usually collected in the largest quantities from beehive. It is found in financial
interest and it is almost excessively used for local consumption. There is high local demand and
for honey due to its uses for the production of local alcohol. Beekeeping is an important
agricultural activity in Ethiopia. It 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 small holder farms
(JUCA, 2009).

2.2.2 Bees wax

Wax is useful primarily for comb foundation making, cosmetics industries, candle making
ointment and cream, varnishes and polishes ,creating special forms and surfaces for artistic
sculptures and for green cups preparation to be used for green rearing to develop and multiply
bee colonies. In Ethiopia, wax is largely collected from traditional hives rather than the modern
hives .The wax yield from traditional hives is estimated to be 8-10%of the honey yield,
compared to 0.5-2%from frame hives (MOARD, 2006).

Beeswax also used to make candles especially for lighting at religious ceremonies in the
Orthodox Church, but the quantity consumed for this purpose is difficult to determine.
Nevertheless, the substantial quantity of bees wax is believed to be wasted at different levels due
to lack of awareness of its marketability. Bees wax from honey consumed at the house hold level
of bee keepers (includes their relatives and friends) and individual buyers of crude honey is
generally discarded (MOARD, 2006).

2.2.3 Source of immediate cash income

Beekeeping is believed of play a significant role and one of the possible options to the
smallholder farmers in order to sustain their livelihood. It does not only serves as source of
additional income, but also quite a number of people entirely depend on beekeeping and honey
selling for their livelihood,(Nauru, 2002). It indicated that honeybee and their products provide
direct cash income for beekeepers. In areas were honey, production is not attractive; beekeepers
can sell their colonies in the market. In this regard honeybees serves as “near cash” capital which
generate attractive money (Nuru, 2002)
CHAPTER THREE

3. METHODS AND MATERIALS

3.1. Description of the study area
The study was conducted at Tarcha zuriya wereda district in Dawuro Zone which is located in
the South Western Ethiopia. Tarcha is the political centre of Dawuro and Tercha zuriya wereda is
located surrounding the capital city. It is located in 486 km from Addis Ababa through Jimma
road, 512 KM through Shashemene, 402 km through Hosanna and 315 km from Hawassa.
Geographically, it is located at 5º48'0'' - 7º14’30'' north latitude and 36 º47’30''-37 º 8’30’’ E
longitudes. According to newly conducted structural plan, its total area covers 13960 hectares.
Tarcha Town has varying climatic condition of Woina Dega and Kola. The town also receives
high amount of mean annual rainfall i.e. about 24.5 mm and total annual rainfall about
1802.7mm. Most of the inhabitants are Dawurogna speakers and the various ethnic and linguistic
groups have been living in Tarcha zuria wereda.

The study area belongs to the Ethiopian southern rift valley and characterized by a bio model
rain fall distribution with the main rain season occurs in July, October and the short rain season
occurs between March and May. The mean annual rain fall is 1247 mm and the mean annual air
temperature various between 12oC-26oC and the mean monthly air temperature is 19.5 o C. The
altitude ranges from 1800 m to 2100 m above sea level (Collage of metrology report (2000).
The total number of population living in study area is around 3679. Among this, 2009 are
females and 1670 are males (Tarcha zuriya Administration Office, 2008).
Generally, the soil is characterized by the bulk density of less than 0.9g/m3, more clay and high
phosphate retention. The main types of cop grown in the study area are sugarcane, enset, chat,
potato and karot (Tarcha zuria agricultural office, 2002).
The vegetation cover of the study area are especially tree production cover, there is reduction
vegetation cover due to the growth of population density. The people clear the natural forest for
expansion of agricultural land for crop production and fuel wood. Almost all the study area is
covered by crop and vegetation those are annual and perennial vegetation (Scroth, 2003).
3.2. Sampling size and sampling technique
Tercha Zuria district has 15 rural kebeles and 1 urban kebeles. Among these kebeles of the
district 3 kebeles will be purposively selected based on honey bee colonies and their potential of
honey production. All the selected kebeles are from rural site of the district. From each selected
kebeles 10 beekeeper will be selected purposively to collect information about beekeeping
practice and status of honey production in the study area. A total of 30 representative beekeepers
will be selected for this study.

3.3. Data sources and methods of data collection

Both primary and secondary data will be collected to a chive the objectives of the study. Primary
data will be collected by using semi structured questionnaire, personal observations and
secondary data will be collected from reports of Tercha zuria district office. Full understandings
in identification of major honey bee forages floral cycle preparation will interviewing, personal
observations and key information discussion.

Both qualitative and quantitative data will be collected using questioner survey method. For
quantitative data, the amount of honey produced per hive per year in kg, the number of hives that
are exist in the colony, Maximum and minimum years that bee colonies lived in the hive,
Number of empty hive that was an individual beekeeper have and the price of one kg honey
during harvesting season a was collected in study area honey bee production system. Qualitative
data, Factors that affect honey bees, age, sex occupation, religion of house hold marital status,
educational level.

3.5 Data analysis

Data both qualitative and quantitative will be enter in to micro soft excel sheet every day after
administering questionnaires to prevent loss of data. Micro soft Excel and simple descriptive
statics like mean average will be used to analyze the raw data. The final result of the analyzed
data will be presented in the form of table, chart, figure, and graph.
4. BUDGET AND TIME
4.1 Budget plan

Table 1 stationary cost

Types of Items Quantity Price Total

No
(Birr per item) price(birr)
1 Pen 6 6 36
2 Pencil 3 4 12

3 Paper 200 0.50 180

5 Note book 1 15 15
6 Ruler 1 10 10
7 Binder 1 25 25
8 Flash 1 200 200

Table 2 Personal cost to research

No Items Amount of money

Br Cents
1 Transport expenses 200 00
2 Stationary cost 327 00

3 Interviewer 300 00
4 Telephone card, Computer and internet service 200 00
Sub Total 1027 00

Table 3 Budget Summary

No Items Birr
1 Sum of sub total 1027

2 Contingency (10%) 102.7

Grand Totals 1129.70

4.2 TIME
Table 4 Work plan

No Month

Activities Jan Fe Mar App May Jun

b

1 Title selection

2 Developing research proposal

3 Proposal defense

4 Developing research questionnaire and

Data Collection
5 Data analyzing and interpretation

6 Writing the research paper

7 Submission of the final report and

presentation

REFERENCE
Alemu G. (2000) beekeeping practice [Link] thes is presented to agricultural universities of
Norway
Ayalew K. (1990), The honey bee of Ethiopia ,Amorphmtric study .[Link] thes is presented to the
agricultural universities of Norway.

Baobalo,(2000), Aboon to turcan [Link] laned informations network east Africa, nairobia,
Kenya magaizine development project in arid land series.

Beyen,[Link] David,(2007), ensuring small scale producers in Ethiopia to achieve sustainable and
fair access to honey markets .Paper prepared for interbational development
enterprisees(IDE)and Ethiopia socity for appropriate technology ,addis abeba Ethiopia .

Bradbear,(2002), Bees development ,Troy united kingdom .

Cencha, (2018),district agricultural development office.

CSA(central stastistical agency ),(2007:Agricultural sample survey of 2007,volume 2 report on

livestock and livestock characterize ,centeral stastistical agency ,addis abeba Ethiopia .

[Link] research strategy Ethiopia agricultural research organisation animal science

directorate 45p.

Gezahegn T,(2001),marketing honey bee ways in Ethiopia :past,present and persoective features
pp 78-88 preceding of the third national annual conference of Ethiopia bee keepers
association .September 3-4 addis abeba ,Ethiopia .

IVCA, (2009) ,(integrated value of chian analysis ) for honey and bees wax production and
marketing in Ethiopia and prospect for exports .The Netherlands development
organisation .

Mammo, (1973), potentially beekeeping giant American beekeeping journal.

MoA,(2000), comprehensive honey bees of northern regions of Ethiopia .phd dissertation .roheds
universities department of zology ,south Africa .

MOA ,(2003) , comprehensive honey and wax marketing .seconde draft MOA addis abeba .

MOARD,(2010),the thir [Link]

 althregulator directorateundertheministerof agriculture and rural development

MOARD(ministry of agriculture and rural development ),2006,C Livestock development master

plan study phase report data collection and analysis ,volume 3,apiculture ministry of
agriculture and development .Addis abeba ,Ethiopia .

Nuru, (2002) , Geographical races of honey bees (apismlliferal) of the modern regions of Ethiopia
phd dissertation ,Rohass university ,department of zology and entomokogy ,south africa.

Nuru, (2007), Atlas of pollen grains of major honey bee flora of Ethiopia ,holleta OESPO(oromia
economics study project ),2000,Addis abeba research center ,holleta Ethiopia.

SOS S. (2002),Beeking manual ,sos,sahel Bahir dar,Ethiopia.

APPENDEX

Research Title: Beekeeping Practice and Status of Honey Production Tercha zuria district, Dawuro
zone, south western Ethiopia Region.

Household characteristics.
1. Respondent code. ------------------------

2. Kebele. ---------------------

3. Village (Got). -------------------

4. Sex. ---------------------

5. Occupation. ---------------------

2.2 Religion of the household. A, Orthodox B, Muslim C, Protestant D, catholic E, others specify

2.3 Age of the household, ---------------------

2.4 Marital status. A, Married B, Single C, Widowed D, Divorced

2.5 Educational Level of the household. A, illiterate B, Basic education C, Grade 1-4 D, Grade 5-8
E,Grade 9-1

Table 5 placement of hives evaluation

No Site of placement Tradition Transitional modern

Of hives

1 backyard

2 Under the eaves of

the house

3 Inside the house

4 Hanging on the
trees near the
house

5 Hanging on the
trees in forest

6 Other/specify
3.7 For how many years colony remains or stays in the hive?

1. Traditional minimum ------year’s maximum --------years.

2. Transitional minimum --------year’s maximum -------years.

3. Modern minimum --------year’s maximum ------years.

3.8 Do you have empty bee hives? A, yes B, No

3.8.1 If yes, list the no of empty hives you have.

Table 6 Types of hive evaluation

No Types of beehives Number Reasons

1 Traditional

2 Transitional

3 Modern

4. Honey production of yields.

4.1 How many hives? ----------------.

4.2 How much yields? --------------.

4.3 What type of hives you use? ----------------.