IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School and Reference Centre (ISTVS)

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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

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/____/____/_________

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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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Contents
Declaration ................................................................................................................................... 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

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3.5 Data analysis ..................................................................................................................... 11 4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION...................................................... 12 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 study
Honey 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 study

Despite 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 Systems
Beekeepers, 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
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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 channel

In 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

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

1.2.3 Extraction Techniques

Removing 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 honeyfilled 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 Production

In 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
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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 Income

Beekeeping 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 colony

When 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

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 Quality

The 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).

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 tenframe 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 Dzierzons 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
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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.

CHAPTER TWO: AIM AND OBJECTIVES

2.1 General objectives
The overall objectives of this research is to increase the understanding of the Beekeeping subsector 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.

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

The 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 area

The 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.

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3.3 Methods of Data collection

Both 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 analysis

In this study, descriptive methods of data analysis were employed. Descriptive statistics like percentiles have been used to explain the honey harvesting and production system.

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4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.

4.1 Honey Marketing Systems
Beekeepers, 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 channel

In 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.

Producer

Collector

Retailer

Consumer

Figure 1 Honey Marketing Systems

4.2 Honey bee production system

Honey 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)

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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) Using this hives can result low yield 5kg honey/colony Traditional beekeeping utilizing cheap and abundant local material for construction hives When Harvesting honey totally destruction of bee population, honey comb included brood and pollen Its Low management effort the time demand for manufacturing Top bar hives The using of this hives can increase the production of honey, and produce 15-20kg of honey Fairly high yield of bees wax is maintained , since the combs are not removed to the bees Honey combs can be removed from the colony without disturbing brood nest 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 area

During 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

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

Trsditional hives 20%

Top bar hives 80%

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

4.4 Honey production and yield

The 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.

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

40 30 20 10 0 2009 2010 2011 2012

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 Summer Spring Winter Autumn Total 15 0 10 0 25 60 0 40 0 100 No Farmers Percentile (%)

Table 2 shows different seasons of harvesting honey

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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 Conyzastricta Acacia bussei Commiphoraerythraea Acacia melifera N/A Acacia tortilis N/A N/A Local name Xamur Golol Xagar Bilcil Sarmaan Qurac Gob gamin Flowering time Throughout the year SeptemberNovember, July-August JanuaryFebruary SeptemberNovember OctoberDecember OctoberDecember March-April September-November

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

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percentage of honey bee flora and their local names

12% 20% 40%
Qurac Xagar xamur

8% 20%

Bilcil Maraa

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

4.7 The honey production constraints

Respondents 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, farmers access to trainings is generall y 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 beekeeping 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
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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.

Percentage of beekeeping constrains in the study area lack of trainning

skills 32% 31% lack of transport facilities of honeybee and its products Insufficient of beekeeping extension services lack of adequate processing and storage facilies

7% 30%

Figure 5 show the honey production constraints

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4.2 Discussion 4.2.1 Honey bee production system

In 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 worlds 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 (Nyrs, 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

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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.

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CHAPTER five: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

5.1 Conclusion
Having 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.
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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

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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. 14. Dennis Van Engelsdorp, Ann Harmon. 2004 Beekeeping basics. 15. NBP.1998, (National beekeeping policy) in Tanzania.
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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.

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Annex one

Top bar hive

traditional hive

Annex two General questionnaire

1. 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------------------------------------------------------Questionnaire for modern honey producer 1) Indicate type of beehive owned by the household and their production capacity?
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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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6) As modern bee keeper what kind of equipments you have? a) Smoker------------------------------------------------------b) Gloves ------------------------------------------------------c) Swarm catcher----------------------------------------------26

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? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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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? a) Night -------------------------------------------b) Morning ---------------------------------------c) Afternoon -------------------------------------28

 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) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------b) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------c) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------d) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------29

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 ------------------b) No -------------------28) Do you clean regularly trees near the hive?

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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 -----------------------------------------34) What kind of support do you get? ----------------------------------------------------------------------35) What time do you harvest more?
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a) Summer-----------------------b) Spring-------------------------c) Winter------------------------d) Autumn-----------------------

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