Assessment on Challenges and Opportunities of Beekeeping in Ilu Abba Bora Zone, Oromia Regional State, South Western Ethiopia

The study was carried out to assess the constraint and opportunities of bee keeping in Ilu Abba Bora Zone, Oromia Regional State, South western Ethiopia. Eight districts were selected for the study following random sampling approach with the sample size of 544. Both primary and secondary data were used to generate qualitative and quantitative information. The data was analyzed using appropriate Microsoft excel and presented in table, bar graph and pie chart. The results of this study indicated that beekeeping in the study area has been practiced as sideways with other agricultural activities. The average amount of honey harvested per hive per year in the district from traditional, transitional and modern hive was 9.17kg, 19.81kg, and 29.05kg respectively. Majorities (33.26%) of beekeepers were used traditional bee keeping system, whereas few (15.69%) used modern bee keeping system. All respondents (100%) were used honey as the main hive product and service and 49.92% of the respondents were used honey and bee wax in combination while the least percentage of the respondents (1.43%) were used honey and bee brood in combination. The modern and transitional hives give more honey production annual as compared to traditional hive. The major constraints in the study area were pest and predator, pesticide application, high cost of modern hives, lack of hive equipments and lack of training. Highbeecolony, high coverage of honey flora, good climate condition, support from nongovernmental organization, increasing price of honey, support from extension worker and availability of local materials for hive making were the opportunities observed in the study for beekeeping development. Further studies are needed on the quality of the honey in the districts.