Abstract:
The study was aimed to assess and identify beekeeping systems with its constraints, opportunities, potentialities and evaluating the status of honey quality produced in Gedebano Gutazer Wolene District of SNNP, Ethiopia in 2016/17.To collect survey data 120 sample beekeepers were selected from Weyna Dega, Dega and Wurch agro-ecological zones using proportional sampling methods.To evaluate the physico-chemical properties of honey, 20 sample of honey having1 kg each were collected randomly from traditional & frame hive at farm get level of three locations & two rural markets and analyzed at Holeta Bee Research Center laboratory. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS & SAS software program. The results showed that three types of beekeeping systems namely traditional, transitional and frame hive beekeeping systems have been identified in the study area. The majority (87.9%) of the colony found in the study area was kept still in traditional hive while only 1.8% and 10% of the colony kept in transitional and frame hives respectively.The result showed very low improved hive colony holding as compared to traditional hive holding by respondents as well as low low productivity of honey in each type of honey. According to respondents’ rankings, indiscriminate application of pesticide (21.1%), decreasing honey bee flora (19.7%), pests & predators (19.2%), less technical support (18.5%) & lack of credit (18.3%) that ranked 1-5 respectively are major constraits of bekeeping development in the study area. Based on physico-chemicalanalysis result of honey all the quality parameters such as moisture, HMF, Acidity, PH, Ash, EC, Sugar, Sucrose & Maltose were met domestic & international requirement as well as conformed free of adulterants with the overall color ranges of extra light amber to amber color. Therefore effort needed to promote honey through regional and national honey promotion program.The result also suggested that more emphasis should be given to enhance improved beekeeping technology that target boosting production & productivity of apicultural products by providing training to beekeeper
.Keywords: beekeeping systems; production & productivity; honeybee colony; honey quality; Agro-ecology; Gedebano Gutazer Wolene district