Affiliated to Makerere University

A Study on honey production and harvesting system in sheikh

district Sahil region.

This mini-thesis was presented in a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

award of higher diploma in livestock product development

and entrepreneurship (DLDE)

Submitted to:

Igad Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (ISTVS)

By

Sayid Said Dirie

July 2013

Supervisor: Mantide Thomas

i

IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School and

Reference Centre (ISTVS)+252 2730118 e-mail stvs@stvs-edu.org

Declaration

I, Sayid Said Dirie, declare that this is my original work except for quotations and documents

which have been duly acknowledged. And I also declare that this thesis has never ever

previously or currently submitted to any institutions.

Student name: Sayid Said Dirie

Signature ___________________________Date/____/_____/________

Supervisor name: Mantide Thomas

Signature ___________________________Date/____/____/_________

ii

Acknowledgements All thanks due to almighty Allah then I express my deepest and sincere gratitude to my parents

especially Fadum Ismail Gulled for being the pillars for my academic progress, moral and

financial support during the whole my life.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and deep appreciation to my supervisor Mantide

Thomas, for his suggestions, encouragements and valuable constructive comments in the

preparation of this thesis. My thanks also go to Qadan Food (beekeeper of the study area) who

co-operated with me in supplying relevant information of this work during the period of data

collection. Above all they earn special appreciation for the input they added on my work.

I give my deepest thanks to ISTVS administration and all ISTVS members for their invaluable

support, providing me both soft and hard copies of the documents, and handouts free of charge

during ISTVS academic years, and the possible facilitation in having the available resources,

readymade enhanced this study work to be completed on time. They are all most grateful as

well. I am very much indebted to their collaboration and amount of work they put into this task,

which made the study to be completed successfully.

Finally but most significantly, I would like to express my deepest thanks to my lovely family

and my dear friends for their encouragement during the whole study time.

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ContentsDeclaration................................................................................... ii

Acknowledgements.......................................................................iii

CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW...............1

1.1 Introduction to the study........................................................................1

1.1.1 Justification of the study...................................................................2

1.2 LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................2

1.2.1 Honey Marketing Systems...................................................................2

1.2.2 Marketing channel...............................................................................3

1.2.3 Extraction Techniques.........................................................................4

1.2.4 Important of honey..............................................................................4

1.2.5 Beeswax Production.............................................................................4

1.2.6 Source of Cash Income........................................................................5

1.2.7 Harvesting honey from the colony.......................................................5

1.2.8 The physical properties of honey.........................................................6

1.2.9 Honey Quality......................................................................................6

1.3 Bee equipment.......................................................................................7

1.3.1 Types of hives......................................................................................7

1.3.2. Fixed comb hives (traditional hive).....................................................7

1.3.3 Movable frame hives (Langstroth hives)..............................................7

1.3.4 Top-bar hives.......................................................................................7

CHAPTER TWO: AIM AND OBJECTIVES.............................................9

2.1 General objectives..................................................................................9

2.2 Specific objectives..................................................................................9

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY........................10

3.1 The study area......................................................................................10

3.2 Study population...................................................................................10

3.3 Methods of Data collection...................................................................11

3.4 Questionnaire.......................................................................................11

3.5 Data analysis........................................................................................11

4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION............................12

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4.1 Honey Marketing Systems....................................................................12

4.2 Marketing channel................................................................................12

4.2 Honey bee production system..............................................................12

4.3 Type of beehives used in the study area............................................13

4.4 Honey production and yield..................................................................14

4.5 Honey harvesting season......................................................................15

4.6 Types of plants for bee flora (flowers)..................................................16

4.7 The honey production constraints........................................................17

4.2 Discussion.............................................................................................19

4.2.1 Honey bee production system...........................................................19

4.2.3 Honey harvesting season...................................................................19

4.2.4 Types of plants for bee flora (flowers)...............................................19

4.2.5 The Constraints on honey production and harvesting systems in study area.............................................................................................................20

CHAPTER five: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:.................21

5.1 Conclusion............................................................................................21

5.2 Recommendation..................................................................................21

Reference....................................................................................................23

Annex one...................................................................................................25

General questionnaire................................................................................25

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CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1 Introduction to the studyHoney is the complex substance made when the nectar and sweet deposits from plants which

honeybees collect, transform and combine with specific substances of their own, store and leave

in the honey comb to ripen and mature. Honey is the most important primary product of

beekeeping both from a quantitative and an economic point of view. It was also the first bee

product used by humankind in ancient times. The history of the use of honey is parallel to the

history of man and in virtually cultural evidence can be found of its use as a food source and as a

symbol employed in religious, magic and therapeutic (Zwaeneprel, 1984).

Honeybees collect nectar from flowers and use it to produce honey as a food for themselves and

for their young brood. In addition to honey, the bees also collect or produce other products like

pollen Propolis and beeswax. The honey bees are also important as pollinators of plants

and they are of great help in producing fruits, vegetables and seeds of crops like Mohari,

sunflowers, etc. Honey bees have been studied for hundreds of years and honey is exploited by

human for thousands of years. The art and practice of keeping honeybees in hives for production

of honey and other products is called beekeeping. Beekeeping has been practiced in Europe and

Asia since time immemorial. Aristotle (384-322 BC) reported the constancy of bees on flowers

of certain crops. Scientific beekeeping is practiced in last two hundred years or so but it is well

known that honey from natural bee colonies from nature was exploited by man during the last

10,000 years in Eurasia. Man learnt to collect honey from hives without damaging them. Further,

he learnt to offer food for bees and to protect them as future source of  honey. In this way the

seeds of beekeeping and development of apiary were sown. Gradually, many changes took place

and now beekeeping is mainly practiced for pollination and partially for honey collection.

African beekeepers and honey production is produced at household level by beekeepers who are

often the poorest and most marginalized in society, and these people are highly disadvantaged in

the market place. Poor roads, remote locations, no knowledge of the final market, lack of

containers and infrequent interaction with traders mean the potential of the honey trade to bring

income benefits to producers remains unexploited.

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So far in sheikh district there is no compiled and reliable information on Honey production and

marketing system. The numbers of beekeepers, bee colonies, and amount of honey produced,

type of beekeeping practiced, and constraints were not known. Therefore, this study was

conducted to collect information on production system, productivity, harvesting system,

marketing, and constraints of beekeeping in sheikh district. Thus, it is timely and relevant to

assess and document important information on the subsector, which has not been yet carried out

before in sheikh district.

1.1.1 Justification of the studyDespite the importance of apiculture in Somali ecosystem, especially in Somaliland district of

district, there have been so many challenges that face the farmers ranging from production to

marketing of the honey products. This study was designed to identify some of these major

constraints of the sector which range from production, harvesting and marketing of honey in

sheikh farmers.

1.2 LITERATURE REVIEW

1.2.1 Honey Marketing SystemsBeekeepers, honey and beeswax collectors, retailers, processors and exporters are identified to be

the key actors in the value chain of the honey sub-sector. Three principal channels were

identified in the value chain of the sub-sector. These are Honey collector channel, honey

processing and exporting channel and beeswax channel. These channels are complex and

interconnected that implies absence of organized marketing channel and lack of formal linkages

among the actors. Most of the harvested honey goes through channel. Beekeepers directly sell

their honey to local honey collectors (dealer or cooperatives) at district or zonal levels, which

directly deliver the honey to Honey collector houses in their localities and/or transport it to the

big honey dealers.

Unlike the two channels mentioned above, the beeswax channel starts mainly from Honey

producers, which collects the wax as a by-product of Honey collector. The Honey collector either

sell the crude beeswax or semi-processed to the local beeswax collectors who supply to beeswax

2

refiners in world. The beeswax processors produce the final pure beeswax suitable for export

market and local markets. Sometimes beekeepers buy beeswax from the wax collectors and/or

processors to use as a starting input for honey production using intermediate and modern

Beehives (Beyene and David 2007).

1.2.2 Marketing channelIn world there is different honey marketing participants were identified. Honey marketing

participants includes producers/farmers, honey collectors/assemblers, retailers and final

consumers of the product.

Producers: Producers/farmers sell their honey to different buyers at the village or district market

center. The market place that is the closest to the residence of the farmers is the first choice with

regard to minimization of transportation costs and less bargaining power by farmers due to

individual marketing because of little amount of honey product and lack of information on honey

marketing at other sites.

Honey collector: The honey collectors found in the study area purchased the honey produce

directly from farmers in a small village markets for resell to other collectors, retailers, and

consumers who come from different areas of the region at the district market center.

Retailers: There are shops and other retailers who divide large amounts of the product and sell it

to consumers in small units. These are the final link in the channel that delivers honey to end

users, since there were no processors in the study district. The majority of honey retailers found

at the market centers have their own small stores and retail shops.

Consumers: From the consumers’ point of view, the shorter the marketing chain, the more likely

is the retail price going to be affordable. Consumers for this particular study mean those

households who bought and consumed honey. They are individual households who bought the

commodity for their own consumption also for making.

In Somaliland honey production was not a big traditional economic activity. Some pastoral

people harvesting honey and would either consume or sell the market. But today honey has a big

value in urban area and parodists are aware of facts. Because many pastoralists people have

domestic beehives and their purpose is to get honey for economic support. Price of per kilogram

of honey is dollar 10-15 (1kg is $ 10-15) the amount of honey produced in Somaliland is not

3

sufficient and the demand is often high because the people use honey in deferent purpose such

medical.

1.2.3 Extraction TechniquesRemoving honey from the combs is difficult for the hobbyist since there is no simple, neat, and

inexpensive way of doing so. The most primitive way of removing honey from the cells (destruct

harvest) is to cut the combs from the frames and let the honey drain from the cells; this method

of honey extraction is usually used in Somaliland. To expedite the process, put pieces of honey-

filled comb in a fine mesh bag then crush the combs and squeeze the honey out by hand. Then

strain the final mixture through a coarse sieve or cloth such as cheesecloth. The best method of

producing liquid honey (non-destruct harvest) requires an extractor that uses centrifugal force to

spin the honey from the cells. Various types and sizes of honey extractors are manufactured

commercially. You may purchase an extractor, rent the equipment, find a beekeeper that does

custom extracting, or build an extractor. The first step in extraction is the removal of wax

capping. Uncap both sides of the honey-filled combs with an uncapping fork or sharp knife

heated by electricity, or steam (Caron, Dewey M. 2001).

1.2.4 Important of honey Apis mellifera is now the most productive and widely distributed in almost all places of the

world. Tropical subspecies of Apis mellifera are smaller than temperate zone subspecies, and

they have a more slender abdomen. They are generally less amenable to handling and

management, swarm readily; also, the whole colony may abscond as a result of damage and

disturbance of their nest or shortage of food. Moreover, the bees are easily alerted to sting and

this characteristic allows their survival in the African tropics where they were liable to be

attacked by many ‘enemies’ (Crane, 1990; Hackett, 2004). Now a day, these bees are kept in

hives in almost every country of the world and beekeepers have to operate in widely different

conditions. Adjare (1990) noted that the honeybee is well distributed over the globe except in the

severe cold of the Polar Regions.

1.2.5 Beeswax ProductionIn several regions of the country, beeswax collection is not significant and the beeswax produced

by bees, which could be harvested by beekeepers, is wasted. The wax is mostly left or thrown

away because beekeepers do not bother to collect it since it is of little practical value for

4

beekeepers (Fichtl and Admasu, 1994) and the people do not know the local beeswax is

generating attractive money. Nevertheless, the annual beeswax production of the country is

estimated at about 3,658 tones (AMP, 2007).

1.2.6 Source of Cash IncomeBeekeeping is believed to play a significant role and one of the possible options to the

smallholder farmers in order to sustain their livelihood. It does not only serve as a source of

additional income, but also quite a number of people entirely depend on beekeeping and honey

selling for their livelihoods. Nuru (2002) indicated that honeybee and their products provide

direct cash income for beekeepers. In areas where honey production is not attractive, beekeepers

can sell their colonies in the market. In this regard honeybees serve as ‘near cash’ capital which

generate attractive money. In sheikh the price of one established bee colony in a traditional hive

ranged from 300-800 Birr (Nuru, 2002), which was worth enough to buy about 3-5 sheep and

goats or a heifer. On the other hand, some beekeepers in Amhara region that are involved in

beekeeping technology packages, were reported to earn up to 3000 birr annually from sale of

honey (BOA, 2003b), making up for the large portion of their annual income. This indicates the

high potentiality of beekeeping as a source and means of diversification of income for the rural

communities. In Jimma Zone of Oromia Regional State, farmer beekeepers are reported to earn

up to 40,000 birr/annum.

1.2.7 Harvesting honey from the colonyWhen harvesting the honey crop during the summer, it is recommended to leave adequate stores

for the bees in case of a lack of a fall crop. The fall honey crop should not be removed until after

a killing frost. Ideally, frames and supers should be removed when they are fully capped, but

they must be at least three-quarters capped before they are removed (Coggshall, William L. and

Roger A. Morse. 1984.). you can use several different techniques to remove the supers from the

colonies, depending on the size of your operation. Use smoke carefully when removing combs

and/or supers because of its effect on the flavor of the honey. When harvesting only a few combs

or supers of honey, shaking or brushing the bees from the combs may be the most practical

methods. To do this, open the lid and smoke the bees lightly. Remove one frame at a time and,

holding each tightly by the ends of the top bar, give it one or more quick shakes downward in the

air above the open colony or within an open space of the super to remove most of the bees. The

5

easiest time to remove honey crop is in the early morning before the bees are flying or late

afternoon (AyalewKassaye 2008).

1.2.8 The physical properties of honey

The physical properties of honey vary, depending on water content, the type of flora used to

produce it (pasturage), temperature, and the proportion of the specific sugars it contains. Fresh

honey is a supersaturated liquid, containing more sugar than the water can typically dissolve at

ambient temperatures. At room temperature, honey is a super cooled liquid, in which the glucose

will precipitate into solid granules. This forms a semisolid solution of precipitated glucose

crystals in a solution of fructose and other ingredients.

1.2.9 Honey QualityThe quality of honey is affected by many different factors from the time it is removed from the

colony until it is sold for human consumption. Whether the operation is small or large, producing

a final packaged product that is of highest quality and attractive to the consume r is important.

Honey is considered at peak quality just after it is sealed in the comb by the bees. Proper

handling during extraction and processing can produce liquid honey with only a slight loss of

quality. While some consumers want raw or unprocessed honey (liquid honey that has not been

filtered or heated), most market outlets require honey with a long shelf life. (Dadant, C. P. 1980).

Honey quality is affected most by heating and moisture content. At no time during processing

should the honey be overheated. Excess heat chemically breaks down the sugar, darkening the

honey and eliminating the natural, volatile flavors that make honey unique. Honey is it readily

absorbs moisture from moist air and loses it to dry air. Moisture even passes through the wax

capping. So, the degree of ripeness at the time the honey is removed from the colony is largely

related to the prevailing atmospheric humidity. Absorption of moisture lowers the grade and

shelf life of the honey. High-moisture honey may ferment. After honey supers are removed from

the colony, they should be held in a warm, dry area until extraction. The best time to remove

excess moisture from honey, if necessary, is while the honey is still in the comb. (Clarence H

Collision et al., 2004).

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1.3 Bee equipment

Equipment needs vary with the size of your operation, number of colonies, and the type of honey

you plan to produce. The basic equipment you need are the components of the hive, protective

gear, and smoker and hive tool, and the equipment you need for handling the honey crop.The

hive is the man-made structure in which the honey bee colony lives. Over the years a wide

variety of hives have been developed. Today most beekeepers use the Langstroth or modern ten-

frame hive. A typical hive consists of a hive stand, a bottom board with entrance cleat or reducer,

a series of boxes or hive bodies with suspended frames containing foundation or comb, and inner

and outer covers.

1.3.1 Types of hives

1.3.2. Fixed comb hives (traditional hive)

A fixed comb hive is a hive in which the combs cannot be removed or manipulated for

management or harvesting without permanently damaging the comb. Almost any hollow

structure can be used for this purpose, such as a log gum, or a clay pot. In many developing

countries fixed comb hives are widely used and because they can be made from any locally

available material are very inexpensive and appropriate. Beekeeping using fixed comb hives is

an essential part of the livelihoods of many communities in poor countries.

1.3.3 Movable frame hives (Lang troth hives)

In the United States, the Lang troth hive is commonly used. The Lang troth was the first

successful top-opened hive with movable frames, and other designs of hive have been based on

it. Lang troth hive was however a descendant of Jan Dzierzon’s Polish hive designs. In the

United Kingdom, the most common type of hive is the British National Hive, which can hold

Hoffman, British Standard or popular Manley frames, but it is not unusual to see some other

sorts of hive (Smith, Commercial and WBC, rarely Langstroth).

1.3.4 Top-bar hives

A growing number of amateur beekeepers are adopting various top-bar hives similar to the type

commonly found in Africa. Top bar hives were originally used as traditional beekeeping a

7

method in both Greece and Vietnam. These have no frames and the honey-filled comb is not

returned to the hive after extraction, as it is in the Langstroth hive. Because of this, the

production of honey is likely to be somewhat less than that of a Langstroth hive.

In sheikh the farmers use tradition ways of production which make then sell the lows quality

honey to the individuals with the lowest price. These major challenges that have to be solved in

order to improve the livelihood of the households and industrial farmers in the region, this study

aims to identify solutions to some of these problems.

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CHAPTER TWO: AIM AND OBJECTIVES

2.1 General objectivesThe overall objectives of this research is to increase the understanding of the Beekeeping sub-

sector challenges by assessing the overall honey harvesting and production system that found in

sheikh district in Sahil region Somaliland.

2.2 Specific objectives To identify the constraints which hinder the beekeeping and honey production constraints

To suggest the possible solutions that enables the promotion of beekeeping in the study

area.

To establish the right months of the year when to harvesting honey.

9

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGYThe study design was cross-sectional study to assess the honey production and harvesting that

found in sheikh district in Sahil region Somaliland. Interview survey was also conducted to

collect information from farmers of apiculture and to gather information on the dry land

traditional beekeeping management system.

3.1 The study areaThe study was conducted in Sheikh District, which is recognized as part of the Somaliland.

Located between the main Burao and Berbera road approximately 60 Kilometer away from the

sea, It is favorable climate conditions, it also have established sheikh as a place of retreat from

the Arid highlands and cold areas during the hot season. Agriculture and small business of

various Types provide main source of livelihood in this area but main dependency is livestock

economy, climate temperature range between 22 and 36 degrees Celsius. In the cold months

(December-January), the temperature is as low as 5 degrees. The average humidity is 40 percent

with an averages annual rainfall of 523mm.

Sheikh map

3.2 Study population The study was performed in local honey production in sheikh district, a total of 25 farmers from

two different villages (Dubur and Afweyne). Under modern system, were considered as study

population.

10

3.3 Methods of Data collectionBoth primary and secondary sources of data were used in this study. Secondary data were

obtained from reports of sheikh district, NGOs and other published and unpublished materials.

Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire, informal discussion with

groups and key informants. In addition, direct observations were also used.

3.4 Questionnaire

The survey was conducted on eight farmers having direct practice in beekeeping (four farmers

from each village). A questionnaire was developed and used to gather information regarding

general honey harvesting and production system in the study area. The questionnaire included

importance of honey, factor that affect honey production and also constrains faced.

3.5 Data analysisIn this study, descriptive methods of data analysis were employed. Descriptive statistics like

percentiles have been used to explain the honey harvesting and production system.

11

4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.

4.1 Honey Marketing SystemsBeekeepers, honey and beeswax collectors, retailers, processors and exporters are identified to be

the key actors in the value chain of the honey sub-sector. Three principal channels were

identified in the value chain of the sub-sector. These are Honey collector channel, honey

processing and exporting channel and beeswax channel. These channels are complex and

interconnected that implies absence of organized marketing channel and lack of formal linkages

among the actors. Most of the harvested honey goes through this channel.

4.2 Marketing channelIn world there is different honey marketing participants were identified. Honey marketing

participants includes producers/farmers, honey collectors/assemblers, retailers and final

consumers of the product.

Figure 1 Honey Marketing Systems

4.2 Honey bee production systemHoney production is an important source of household income in the sheikh district. Sheikh is

one of the districts of Sahil Region with high potential for beekeeping development. The district

has a lot of honeybee colonies making it one of the high potential areas for developing

beekeeping in the region as well as in the country. The annual crude honey produced in those

areas per traditional box beehives was 15 Kg and the modern hives are 25 kg per year.

Honey is harvested at the time when beekeepers expected that honey is ready for harvest without

checking whether the honey is ripened or not. During honey harvesting from traditional hives,

beekeepers cut and pull the fixed combs one by one. Pollen, brood, and honey combs are

removed and kept in the same container. Any comb pulled out from the hive (if it is empty)

12

Producer Collector Retailer Consumer

could not be returned. Beekeepers harvest the honey by bringing the hive to the ground to

harvest by using smoke.

Almost 95% of interviewed beekeepers in the area use wood for smoking during harvesting,

while the rest of beekeepers use dung, old clothes and combinations of wood, animal dung and

old clothes. In the area honey was harvested two times a year provided that bees did not abscond

and/ or migrate before the second honey fallow season. Large amount of honey was harvested

from late September to early November while small amount was harvested in May. This might

be attributed to availability of abundant flower difference between the two seasons.

Bee keeping production system was identified based on the types of technology and management

practices used by bee keepers. Based on these criteria two honey bee production systems were

identified in the study areas. These were traditional production system and intermediate

(moveable top bar hives) production systems.

The majority of the bee keepers keep their bees in the modern way in different local hives. In

sheikh areas 20% of the interviewed bee keepers used traditional hives (table 1) and 80% of

interviewers used intermediate (modern) hives production systems.

Gaan guur ( traditional) Top bar hives

Using this hives can result low yield 5kg

honey/colony

The using of this hives can increase the production

of honey, and produce 15-20kg of honey

Traditional beekeeping utilizing cheap and

abundant local material for construction hives

Fairly high yield of bees wax is maintained , since

the combs are not removed to the bees

When Harvesting honey totally destruction of bee

population, honey comb included brood and pollen

Honey combs can be removed from the colony

without disturbing brood nest

Its Low management effort the time demand for

manufacturing

The colony is easily inspecting for the condition of

the queen, cleaning in the colony

Table1 the above shows the comparison of traditional & modern beehives used in the study area.

4.3 Type of beehives used in the study areaDuring my field study I identified the most beehives used sheikh district which are:

1) Top bar hive ( gaan guur)

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2) Traditional hives

Top bar hives80%

Trsditional hives20%

The percentage of traditional and modern beehives in the study area.

Figure 2: shows percentages of traditional and modern hives in study area

4.4 Honey production and yieldThe honey production range 15-18kg per hive in the study site based on beekeepers’ estimates.

The respondents estimated that the average production yield ranges from 500-800kg per year,

they also informed that the price of honey is around 15-20 USD per 1kg. The yields differ from

time to time due to the following factors: lack of bee feeding and water during drought period,

swarming, wind, and rainy period. These factors can hinder and slow the production of honey

production. Moreover, the information about low yield (figures2) may also be due to reluctance

of many beekeepers to keep correct records or it might be due underestimation on their

apiculture sector part.

14

2009 2010 2011 201205

101520253035

The honey production in Last four year and yield in sheikh district

Figure 3 the honey production of the last four years in sheikh district

4.5 Honey harvesting season  

The major honey harvesting time was stated from June and from July (summer) to December

(winter) in sheikh areas, respectively (Table2). Also revealed that honey harvesting period

matches with peak flowering period.  The variation on the time of honey harvesting between the

two watersheds might be due to variation on the seasonal availability of honeybee forages and

the type of plants exist in the watersheds. In both watersheds the minor honey harvesting season

was also illustrated from June to July when there is rainfall in the middle of the dry season.

Seasons of harvesting

honey

No Farmers Percentile (%)

Summer 15 60

Spring 0 0

Winter 10 40

Autumn 0 0

Total 25 100

Table 2 shows different seasons of harvesting honey

15

4.6 Types of plants for bee flora (flowers)About 85% of interviewed beekeepers responded that there are diversified types of bee flora.

Many cultivated crops in the area serve as a source of pollen, nectar, or both. Mainly woody

plants, shrubs, forbs, herbs, weeds and some cultivated crops are the main bee forages for the

honey harvested in October while most woody plants are the main source of pollen and nectar for

honey harvested in May. According to the beekeepers response there are a wide variety of plants

which are used as honey bee flora. Respondents indicated that even though there are different

types of bee plants in the area during wet seasons, there is a shortage of bee food during dry

seasons. They also mentioned that bee forages became nowhere near what they used to be in the

past, due to deforestation and expansion of cultivated lands in the area.

The areas around sheikh-Afweyne and Dubur is endowed with forest which has different types

of woody plants that serve as honey bee such as flora species like acacia melifera (Bilcil) and

others. There were various drought tolerant bee flora tree species which flower during both

dearth periods (dry seasons) and honey harvesting seasons. The following are major bee flora

plants presented with their local names and flowering calendar (table 3).

Scientific name Local name Flowering time

Conyzastricta Xamur Throughout the year

Acacia bussei Golol September–November, July-August

Commiphoraerythraea Xagar January–February

Acacia melifera Bilcil September–November

N/A Sarmaan October–December

Acacia tortilis Qurac October–December

N/A Gob March-April

N/A gamin September-November

Table 3 indicates Types of plants for bee flora, their local names and flowering calendar

16

40%

20%8%

20%

12%

percentage of honey bee flora and their local names

QuracXagarxamurBilcilMaraa

Figure 4 percentages of honey bee flora and their local names.

4.7 The honey production constraintsRespondents were asked to state the market, technological constrains and problems associated

with honey production practices. According to the beekeepers, the critical constraints and

problems affecting honey production in sheikh districts include inadequate availability of

production technologies, limited availability of bee flora mainly due to deforestation, lack of

beekeeping Knowledge/skill, and marketing accessibility. Perhaps the main constraints limiting

the expansion of beekeeping may be the limited flora attributed to land degradation and

deforestation. Yet, there is a potential for beekeeping in the region. Sometimes training is given

for those who have modern bee hives. However, farmer’s access to trainings is generally poor.

Other major constraint facing the sub sector is a weak market which led to lower contribution of

honey sub sector (much lower than its potential) to the regional and national economy. The

traditional beehives are not comfortable for sanitation and high level of production. Modern bee-

keeping is relatively expensive that requires a good financial base, which most farmers often

lack. The movable frame hive is so expensive that poor beekeepers are not able to buy it Farmers

are complaining that the cost of the modern hive is so expensive; at first the cost was 85$. This

increment in cost hinders poor farmers not to buy it all these constraints are further aggravated

by inadequate extension coverage, lack of special skills and limited research works in the

17

beekeeping sector. Inadequate vegetation coverage for bee colonies (bee forage), lack of proper

bee management, and inadequate government support are other factors responsible for failure of

large scale growth of apiculture in the region. Most of the rural beekeepers cannot afford to

invest in inputs, process, pack, and transport their products to market to maximize profit.

Moreover, lack of proper marketing channels, lack of trained development agents, poor market

infrastructure are generally the major factors hampering the apiculture development in the

region.

31%

7%

30%

32%

Percentage of beekeeping constrains in the study area

lack of trainning skills

lack of transport facilities of honey-bee and its prod-ucts

Insufficient of beekeeping exten-sion services

lack of adequate processing and storage facilies

Figure 5 show the honey production constraints

18

4.2 Discussion

4.2.1 Honey bee production systemIn the present study, honey production contributes of the pillars of beekeepers household income.

In the present study, 80% of the total honey produced comes from top bar hives. Beekeepers

identify honey season by the experiences they developed in respect to their areas. The amount of

honey produced from one bee hive per year varies from places to places, which in most cases is

determined by the existences of plenty pollen and nectar source plants and the level of

management & input. The maximum amount of honey harvested from traditional and Top bar

hive were 5 kg and 15-20 kg respectively (Table 1).

According to the FAO database, the world’s honey production was 1.4 million tons in 2006. 71%

of the produced honey was made in 6 countries or country groups. They were China, the United

States of America, Argentina, the European Union, the Union of Independent Countries and

Mexico. Honey production of the six biggest honey producing countries was 826 thousand tons

in 2006; that is a 27% increase compared to 2001 (Nyárs, 2001). Honey production of the

“world” is getting concentrated. Next to the price competition production and marketing of

special apiary products have an effect on the market. Cost reduction, standardization and

intensive production has a more and more important role in increasing competitiveness.

4.2.3 Honey harvesting season  In sheikh district harvesting is performed on the tree using either of the two openings, leaving

some honey comb, all brood and larvae in the hive to maintain the colony for many seasons.

However, the majority of beekeepers damage brood, discard their colonies after honey harvest

and always start from new swarm every year, poor harvesting system could be the main cause for

current severe declining of honeybee population. In these conditions the new swarm could not

produce honey in the same season as those colonies maintained in the hive throughout the year.

This study reveals that the type of honey produced varies based on honeybee flora available.

4.2.4 Types of plants for bee flora (flowers)Our results showed that there are mainly two major rainfall seasons in a year. The flowering

periods were immediately followed by honey flow seasons. Therefore there are also two major

19

honey harvesting seasons in the year. When many plants start to bloom, bees collect a lot of

nectar and pollen, and the young workers eating more pollen, produce more bee milk.

4.2.5 The Constraints on honey production and harvesting systems in study area.Lack of bee equipments (like modern hives, casting mold, frame wires), bee equipment

accessories, high rate of absconding; poisoning of bees by agro chemicals, lack of appropriate

honey processing materials; lack of skilled manpower, limited beekeeping training for farmers

and experts, poor pre and post harvest management of honey, lack of appropriate honey

containers, predators, shortage of bee food and water, low productivity of colonies and lack of

attention from concerned body to improve the traditional beekeeping system.

20

CHAPTER five: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

5.1 ConclusionHaving visited in sheikh district the study area, it has been recognized that there are difficult

challenges facing the beekeepers, despite all constrains and challenges. There are also enormous

opportunities and potentials to enhance the beekeeping sector in order to increase qualitatively

and quantitatively, the production of honey in the study site. Honeybee production is a

sustainable form of agriculture, which is beneficial to the environment and provides economic

income.

Traditional and locally made top bar hive production system seems beneficial and appropriate for

the rural areas. Nevertheless, traditional hive production system is characterized by low inputs

and low output levels. For optimum utilization should be exerted and improved this traditional

production system to enable usage of natural resources in the area.

During this work constrains that have been found out including the following: lack of basic

training skills for beekeepers, lack of effective and efficient beekeeping extension services.

Beekeeping extension services did not reach all the farmers live in Sheikh District, the services

of processing of the bee products, beekeeping equipment and customers to buy bee products. As

a result the goods and services of beekeeping sector were still inadequate qualitatively and

quantitatively; the number of beekeepers still on small scale, and thus the production also was

low.

Finally; few beekeepers of the study area were aware of importance and the benefits of the

beekeeping sector, since majority of the people depending on the livestock production for their

livelihoods and other basic needs.

5.2 Recommendation

1. To initiate thorough training programs by the local social promoters and other

developmental agents who know the local language and culture and who can train the

community with due emphasis on practical beekeeping and involvement of women and

youths in improved beekeeping and to give basic training skills and community

mobilization to enhance the importance of beekeeping sector in the study site.

21

2. Appropriate beekeeping research must be periodically conducted to assess the overall

honeybee production system, investigating major constraints and opportunities and come

up with possible suggestions as such.

3. Promotion of integrated beekeeping, Agro pastoral and horticultural activities in any

development endeavors to enable the communities in drought prune areas to be food self

sufficient. Because this allows the food and income diversification and then improves the

overall socio-economic development.

4. Absconding, migration, swarming and pests and predators were the major problems of

beekeeping in the study area. To minimize the problems, appropriate management

practices should be practiced by beekeepers. These might include proper feeding and

watering during the dearth period, transferring colonies at early flowering time, provision

of shade, keeping the apiaries clean, and regular supervision and monitoring of the

colonies.

5. Extension services on bee equipments and construction of beehives from locally

available materials and protective clothes need to be provided cooperation with interested

and committed parties in government, private and other NGOs (Non Governmental

Organization) in supporting the beekeeping in the area.

6. In the study site (sheikh district ), traditional and intermediate production system can be

productive and sustainable because of availability of floral resources, climatic conditions

of Sahil region , but this requires further improvement of beekeeping knowledge and

management.

7. In this work, assessment of honeybee plant resources was done based on the perspective

of beekeepers' knowledge. Thus, further study on species diversity and composition as

well as bee- plant interaction is required.

8. Beekeeping extension services and trainings should be provided to beekeepers

22

Reference 1. AyalewKassaye (June 2008) establishment of apiculture data base in Ethiopia, Addis

Ababa.

2. Bonney, Richard E. 1991. Hive Management: A Seasonal Guide for Beekeepers. Storey

Communications, Pownal, VT. 160 pp.

3. Bonney, Richard E. 1993. Beekeeping: A Practical Guide. Storey Communications,

Pownal, VT. 184 pp.

4. Butler C.G. 1954: The importance of "queen substance" in the life of a honeybee colony.

Bee World (9):169.

5. Butler, Colin G. 1976. The World of the Honeybee (revised edition). Collins Press,

London. 226 pp.

6. Caron, Dewey M. 1999. Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping. Wicwas Press, LLC,

Cheshire, CT. 355 pp.

7. Caron, Dewey M. 2001. Africanized Honey Bees in the Americas. A. I. Root Co.,

Medina, OH. 228 pp.

8. Cartland, B. 1970. The magic of honey. Corgi Books, London, UK, 160 pp.

9. Clarence H Collison, Maryann Frazier, Dewey M Caron , Dewey M Caron, Ann

Harmon. Beekeeping basics: MAAREC: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,

West Virginia, and the USDA cooperating

10. Coggshall, William L. and Roger A. Morse. 1984. Beeswax: Production, Harvesting,

Processing and Products. Wicwas Press, Cheshire, CT. 196 pp.

11. Crane, B. 1980. A book of honey. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K., 198 pp.

12. Crane, E. 1975. Honey: A comprehensive survey. Heinemann (in coop. with IBRA),

London, U.K. 608 pp.

13. Dadant, C. P. 1980. First Lessons in Beekeeping. Scribner, New York, NY. 127 pp.

23

14. Dennis Van Engelsdorp, Ann Harmon. 2004 Beekeeping basics.

15. NBP.1998, (National beekeeping policy) in Tanzania.

16. R.Krell. 2009. Value-added products from beekeeping, Rome, Italy.

17. Sant Ram and R. B. Singh 2005, an economic appraisal of production and marketing of

honey in Uttaranchal: a case study (January-March, 2005) India.

18. Workneh Abebe.2008 Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of Ethiopian

Farmers Project, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa,

Ethiopia

19. Zwaeneprel, C. 1984. Honey: facts and folklore. Alberta Beekeepers' Association,

Edmonton, Canada, 24 pp.

24

Annex one

Top bar hive traditional hive

Annex two

General questionnaire1. Do you keep honey bees?

a) Yes--------------------------------

b) No---------------------------------

2. If yes what types of honey bees do you keep? --------------------------------------------------

3. How many years have you been operator of bee keeper? --------------------------------------

4. Which honey production system you use?

(a) Modern production system-----------------------------------------------------------

(b) Traditional production system-------------------------------------------------------

25

Questionnaire for modern honey producer

1) Indicate type of beehive owned by the household and their production capacity?

Types of beehive Total number Production per hive

2) From where you get material for hive

construction?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Which type of tree species are most preferred for hive construction and why?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------

4) What is the current status of hive productivity?

a) Increasing-------------------------------------------------------------

b) Declining -------------------------------------------------------------

i) Why?

5) What are the main causes by decreased honey production?

a) Change seasons/ weather fluctuation----------------------------------------------------------------

b) Natural

disasters----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

c) Outbreak of disease------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

d) Swarming-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

e) Others----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

26

6) As modern bee keeper what kind of equipments you have?

a) Smoker-------------------------------------------------------

b) Gloves -------------------------------------------------------

c) Swarm catcher-----------------------------------------------

d) Veil

7) How much honey do you get per year?

Quantity obtained one hive Quantity obtained in all hives

8) How many times do you harvest honey per year?

a) One time--------------------

b) Two times ------------------

c) Others-----------------------

8) Before harvesting how do you know whether honey is ripened or not?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9) Explain steps you do during harvest period to collect honey from hives?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10) Can you demonstrate and explain quality of honey you produced?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11) How is market availability of your honey?

27

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------

12)

Type of honey Price of honey per kilogram

13) Is the market price is incentive to you?

a) Yes -------------

b) No---------------

i) If yes how? ---------------------

ii) If no why? ----------------------

15) What kind of smoke you use during harvesting?

a) Wood ------------------

b) Dung -------------------

c) Clothes ----------------

d) Others -----------------

14) Do you harvest all honey during harvesting?

a) Yes ---------------

b) No ----------------

15) During harvesting do you harvest your honey at?

28

a) Night --------------------------------------------

b) Morning ----------------------------------------

c) Afternoon --------------------------------------

Why you chose this time and not others?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

16) Which color of honey do you produce?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------

17) What containers you use to harvest, store and transport honey?

a) Plastic aluminum --------------------------------

b) Aluminum ----------------------------------------

c) Others----------------------------------------------

i) Why you prefer this container?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

18) Did you ever encounter swarming of bees?

a) Yes ---------------------

b) No ----------------------

19) What are the main causes of swarming in your area?

a) ----------------------------------------------------------

b) ----------------------------------------------------------

c) ----------------------------------------------------------

d) ----------------------------------------------------------

e) ----------------------------------------------------------

20) What measures you take to prevent your colony to swarm?

a) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

29

b) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

c) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

d) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

21) How many times you visit your honey?

a) Every day -------------------------------

b) Two times a week ---------------------

c) One time a week -----------------------

d) Only at harvesting ---------------------

e) Other times -----------------------------

22) How do you clean the hive area?

a) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

b) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23) During dry season do you feed the bee?

a) Yes ----------------------------

b) No -----------------------------

24) What kinds of feed do you give your bees?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------

25) How do you prevent pest from the colony?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------

26) How do you prevent bee stress and fear?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

27) Do shelter you hive during sunny and rainy period?

a) Yes -------------------

30

b) No --------------------

28) Do you clean regularly trees near the hive?

a) Yes--------------------

b) No---------------------

29) What measures you do to stop any predator from the colony?

a) -----------------------------------------------

b) -----------------------------------------------

c) -----------------------------------------------

30) What are the other management practices you do?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------

31) What are the main constrains affect your bee keeping activities?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------

32) What Are the copping strategies you use to solve the above mentioned constrains?

a) ------------------------------------------------

b) ------------------------------------------------

c) ------------------------------------------------

33) Do you get any support? And where do you get?

a) From the government------------------------

b) From the NGOs-------------------------------

c) Others ------------------------------------------

31

34) What kind of support do you get? -----------------------------------------------------------------------

35) What time do you harvest more?

a) Summer------------------------

b) Spring--------------------------

c) Winter-------------------------

d) Autumn-----------------------

32