Approaches, methods and processes for innovative apiculture development: Experiences from Ada'a liben Woreda, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Apiculture is one of the important agricultural sectors that enables utilize natural resources that otherwise would be wasted, and contributes to the national food products through pollination. Apiculture neither affects other agricultural sectors nor causes environmental disturbance. In Ethiopia, apiculture has been practiced for centuries around the country and its potential is well documented. However, apiculture is still operating in traditional ways implying the need for modernization. The current annual honey production in Ethiopian estimated at approximately 24 thousand tones accounting for about 24 and 2% of the total Africa and world honey production, respectively (ARSD 2000). Ethiopia is also one of the five biggest was exporters to the world market. An average of 270t was exported per year over the period 1984-94, which in turn generated over Ethiopian birr (ETB) 2 million per annum to the national economy. In spite of its potential, products obtained from this sector have been very low due to lack of improved bee management system, low quality of hive products and lack of skill by beekeepers. To this effect, the MInistry of Agriculture and Rural development (MoARD) has formulated a honey and beeswass development and marketing plans for the country. The Improving Productivity and Marketing Success (IPMS) of Ethiopia Farmers project has also included beekeeping as one of the priority marketable commodities in a number of its Pilot Learning Woredas of which Ada'a-Liben woreda is one. The main objective of the apiculture development study undertaken in Ada'a-Liben woreda was to identify the current beekeeping potentials, problems, and solutions through the introduction of market-oriented modern beekeeping practice. The study was initiated in 2005 and has been continuing up to now. Systematic and step-wise approaches were employed to assess the situation and implement the interventions. Interventions include activities ranging from production improvement to market assessment and institutional linkages between producers and stakeholders. For the collection methods were adopted. Primary information was obtained from interviews with farmers, woreda apiculture experts and development agents, Federal and Zonal governmental organizations (including the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and East Shoa Zone Cooperative Promotion Office). Secondary data were obtained from information compiled by the above-mentioned governmental organizations and the latest information was gathered from the internet. The main activities during the project implementation process were identification of pilot intervention sites, beekeepers mobilization and group formation, capacity building thought visit and training and