Aves, Pesca e Ciências da Vida Selvagem
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Assessment of Beekeeping Practices (Absconding, Bee Forage and Bee Diseases and Pests) in Jigjiga Zone, Somali Regional State of Ethiopia

Sisay Fikru, Gebremedhin Gebresilassie and Awoke Kassa

The present study was conducted in Jigjiga zone of Somali regional state. The study intended to assess the challenges, limitations and opportunities existing in the area forhoneybee production. 50 respondents were interviewed from three districts (20 from Jigjiga, 15 from Awbare and 15 from Kebribeyah). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 version software and the results were interpreted and presented using Descriptive Statistics. Based on the results of this survey, all the three types of honeybee production systems were identified, namely: Traditional, Movable comb top-bar and modern honey bee production systems. Beekeeping in the study areas was dominantly a man’s occupation (100%). The main Honeybee flora compositions of the study area were sunflower, maize and other flowering plants. Based on the result of this study, the major challenges were high cost of modern hive, lack of bee forage, pests and predators, lack of water, honeybee diseases, marketing problems, lack of honey storing facilities. The opportunities for beekeeping in the study area were the presence of numerous wild honeybee colonies and high demand of honey. There is no extension service from governmental sectors but some training for few farmers from NGOs.