ASSESSMENT OF HONEY PRODUCTION SYSTEM, CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SELECTED KEBELES OF HAWASSA CITY ADMINISTRATION, ETHIOPIA

The study was intended to assess honey production system, constraints and opportunities in selected kebeles of Hawassa city administration, sidama zone in 2018/19. Production limitation has resulted with a significant complain among the beekeepers and all concerned bodies regarding the possible threat for decreasing honey production in the area. Cross-sectional types of studies were used to collect data. 20 beekeepers were selected from each kebeles using purposive sampling method to conduct formal survey with semi-structured questionnaire making a total of 100 interviewed bee keepers. The main purpose of keeping honey bees were for both income generation and home consumption. The main sources of the foundation colony were catching swarm (80%) and gift from parents (20%). Most (40%) of the beekeepers in the study area have owned only traditional hives and all the three types of hive owned (32%). Beekeepers in the study area prevent the incidence of swarming by return back to the colony (56%), removal of queen cell (16%) and cutting of combs (28%). The average amount of honey harvested per hive per year from traditional hive, transitional and frame hive was 5.6±1.49kg, 11.9±3.15kg and 10.8±2.91kg, respectively. There was (p<0.05) no variations in the five representing kebeles in honey yield/hive/year in traditional, transitional and frame hives. Beekeepers of the study area sold the honey at the nearby market (92%) and major marketing place (8%). According to the respondents, they mostly sold the honey to consumer (64%) and tej house (28%). The most important constraints of beekeeping in the study kebels were lack of Absconding (1st), Lack of training (2nd), Pests and predators (3rd), Lack of extension services (4th), Agro-chemicals (5th), Lack of cooperative (6th), Swarming (7 th) and Lack of beekeeping equipment (8th) Lack of bee colonies (9th), Lack of good market (10th), Drought (11th) and Shortages of bee forages (12th). In order to address the skill gap on honey production system and post-harvest handling of hive products practical training on bee and bee products management should be given.