Honeybee production and marketing systems, constraints and opportunities in Burie District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Bure district of Amhara region to understand and document the existing beekeeping system of the district, identify major honeybee flora and their flowering calendars, test quality of honey, identify major constraints of beekeeping opportunities and suggest possible solution for existing problems. Data were collected from 120 beekeepers having three types of hives and living in three different agro-ecologies using single-visit-multiple-subject formal survey. The major pests and predators are ants, wax moth (Galleria mellonella), bee lice (Braula coecal), beetles (Aethina tumida), spiders, wasps, prey mantis, lizard, snake, birds and honey badger (Mellivora capensis). Lack of beekeeping equipment, chemical poisoning by pesticide and herbicide application, shortage of bee forage, drought, knowledge and skill gap are the major constraints in beekeeping development in order of their importance. For honey quality test, a total of 21 honey samples were collected from three agro-ecologies in three types of hives. These samples were analyzed for eight honey quality parameters i.e. moisture, ash, acidity, pH, Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase, reducing sugar and apparent sucrose content. The biochemical variation in the composition is significant (P<0.05) in moisture content and reducing sugar when compared to the market samples but not significant within hive types and agro ecologies, while ash, acidity, pH, HMF, diastase and sucrose content were not significant (p>0.05). All the samples were well within the limit of Codex Almentarius Commission Standard and Ethiopian Standard Authority i.e. moisture (95.2%), ash (100%), acidity (100%), pH (95.2%), HMF (81%), diastase 100%, reducing sugar (80.9%), and apparent sucrose (100%) were within the acceptable range. As concluding remarks, the existing beekeeping practice of Bure district is more or less in a traditional manner and less productive interwoven by many constraints. However, almost all samples of honey examined were within the acceptable range of world and national standard and only few samples failed to meet expected standard mainly due to lack of appropriate handling during harvesting and storage of the product. To sustain the beekeeping activity there should be introducing affordable and appropriate beekeeping technologies with all accessories, strengthening the appropriate beekeeping management practices, and finally mobilizing women and non beekeepers in to sub-sectors through training.