Honeybee production trend, potential and constraints in Eastern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

摘要

The study was conducted in Kilte Awlaelo District (KAD), Eastern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia to assess the honey bee production trend, potential and constraints. Cross-sectional types of studies were used to collect data. Using a purposive sampling technique, 156 households were included in the survey. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Household colonies size varies from 1-102 with an average of 5.8 colonies per household. From the beekeepers 9.60% and 75.6% own traditional and framed hive, respectively responded that honey production is increasing from time to time. About 7.70% and 82.1% of the beekeepers responded that colony number is increasing in traditional and framed hive, respectively. Indigenous bush bee forges ranked as the major sources. However, bee forages, pests and predators, beekeeping equipments, absconding, bee colony, and pesticides and herbicides are the major constraints. According to their degree of importance pests and predators are honey badger, ants, wax moth, spider, birds, lizard and snake. Both honey production and colony number is increasing year after year. However, improving honey bee production techniques is important.