Assessment of Honey Production and Marketing System in Gomma District, South Western Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Gomma district of Jimma Zone, south western Ethiopia to assess honey production and marketing systems. For this study, six peasant associations (PAs) were selected using purposive sampling techniques. From each PA, 30 beekeepers (a total of 180) were randomly selected and interviewed using pre-tested, structured questionnaires. Data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results of the study showed that the mean age of the respondents was 40.47 years, indicating an active and productive age. The beekeepers had an average experience of 5.66 years where male respondents (92.8 %) take the largest share to be engaged in beekeeping activities. The average honey yield per year/colony was 7.20 ±0.23, 14.70 ±0.62 and 23.38±0.73kg for traditional, transitional and moveable frame hives, respectively. Honey marketing participants were producers, collectors, retailers and consumers. There was no difference in price of crude honey between study locations (P>0.05), while significance difference (P<0.05) was observed for table honey. From results of the study honey yield per hive/year was found to be low from traditional and transitional hives as compared to moveable frame hive. Thus, strong extension and technical intervention is important for farmers to use the moveable frame hives to increase honey production and income of beekeepers in the study area.