Adoption of Improved Beehive Technology for Poverty Alleviation in Northern Ethiopia

摘要

Bee-keeping is emerging as an important tool for alleviating poverty in rural areas of Ethiopia. This study was conducted in Asgede Tsimbla district, northern Ethiopia to investigate determinants of improved beehive adoption, financial benefits and gender involvement in bee-keeping. A total of 1000 beekeepers (500 adopters and 500 non adopters) were randomly selected for structured interview from five sub districts. As was expected when the age of respondents increase, adoption of improved beehive decreases. The mean age of household head for adopters and non-adopters was 45.2 and 47.9 years, respectively. They were statistically significantly different (p<0.0001). The average family size was 6 and 5 persons for adopters and non-adopters with average years of beekeeping experience of 17 and 11, respectively. High yield, quality honey, ease for inspection and harvesting of products were the major relative advantages while high cost, need of high skill and accessories, and unavailability of the technology were the main relative disadvantages. The district had a total of 10,185 honey bee colonies 7,099 and 3,086 were kept in traditional and modern bee hives, respectively with a potential total annual income of about US$ 1,047,541. Traditional and modern beehives contributed 45.6%) and 54.4% of the potential annual income, respectively. Age, family size, education level, beekeeping experience and farmer perception of the technology were found to positively and significantly influence adoption decision of improved beehive. The total benefit obtained from improved beehives exceeds the benefit from traditional hive by more than twice. Encouraging increased use of modern bee-hives and more women to participate in beekeeping and need based training to develop experienced and skilled experts are recommended.