Assessment of Transitional and Contemporary Hives for Honey Production in Ethiopia's Mid-Rift Valley

Abstract

From September 2009 to June 2012, a study was carried out in the regions of Adami Tulu and Arsi Negelle to assess the productive performance of modern and transitional bee hives. Three representative sites—Asebo, Adami Tulu research station, and Ashoka Lepis site—were chosen for this investigation. For the path in each experimental farmer's backyard, a modern hive and a transitional hive constructed from locally accessible materials were utilized, depending on the farmers' capacity. Thirty beekeeping farmers at the chosen sites received both theoretical and practical instruction prior to the study's real start. Three years' worth of data were gathered, and the statistical analysis system (SAS) program's General Linear Model analysis variance process was used to analyze the data. At Asebo, Adami Tulu Research Station, and Ashoka Lepis location, the average annual honey yield from transitional hives was 13.88 kg, 13.21 kg, and 10.45 kg, respectively. The annual honey yield per hive from transitional hives varied (p < 0.05) between the Ashoka Lepis site and Adami Tulu Research station. However, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the mean honey yield from transitional at the Adami Tulu Research Center and Asebo location.At the Asebo and Ashoka Lepis sites, the transitional hive produced noticeably more and less honey, respectively. At the Adami Tulu Research Center, Asebo, and Ashoka Lepis sites, the modern hive produced an average of 23.18 kg, 21.61 kg, and 18.45 kg of honey annually, respectively. The three typical sites differed (p < 0.05) in the amount of honey produced annually by modern hives per hive. Comparing modern hives to transitional and traditional hives, the mean yield from the former was statistically higher at all study sites. At the Adami Tulu Research Center, Asebo, and Ashoka Lepis sites, the average honey yield per hive per year from traditional hives was 6.08 kg, 5.94 kg, and 4.94 kg, respectively. The honey yield from traditional hives did not differ (P < 0.05) across all research sites. In terms of honey yield per hive per year, there was, on average, a highly significant difference (p < 0.05) across the three types of hives. The study area's honey yield per hive was significantly impacted by the interplay between hive type and location. In contrast, the study area's honey yield per hive was not significantly impacted by the interaction between hive types and honey harvesting season. The use of better bee hives with better management techniques was found to increase honey yield and guarantee higher quality. Compared to transitional and traditional hives, modern hives require highly skilled workers and costly beekeeping equipment and accessories. Therefore, it is advised that government and non-governmental organizations concentrate on expanding and encouraging the use of transitional bee hives in order to increase farmers' incomes with minimal expenses and little expertise.