2023/12/31 by Dibaba, Habtamu, Kenea, Oljira
#Apiculture development #Bee flora #Dambi Dollo Town #Honey bee #Urban apiculture #Western Ethiopia
paper · doi:10.20372/star.v12i4.02
The main objective of the study was to assess beekeeping opportunities and challenges in Dambi Dollo town. The study was conducted from June 2022 to December 2022. To address these objectives, questionnaires, focus group discussions, and interviews were used to collect primary data. Four kebeles were selected purposefully based on beekeeping activities. A cross-sectional research design was used to describe the beekeeper's characteristics. Primary data were collected from 69 respondents that were proportionately selected from the four kebeles. The data were organized and analyzed using Microsoft Office 2010 software, and a one-way analysis of variance was used. Urban beekeeping activity was mainly undertaken by younger people in the study area. Among a total of 69 beekeepers who participated in the survey, 91.3% were male-headed households and 8.7% were female-headed households. The study indicates that based on their level of education, 40.6% of the respondents were above secondary school, and about 46.38% of the beekeepers were involved in beekeeping for 6–10 years. According to the respondents, the major opportunities found in the study area for urban beekeeping were suitable climate, bee forage plant availability, sufficient rainfall, water, and honey bee density. On the flip side of these opportunities, the high cost of modern hive equipment inputs, improper agrochemical use, and beeswax were the challenges of urban beekeeping. In conclusion, regardless of the challenges, urban beekeeping is getting attention from the government and the local community. Hence, it is recommended that the government facilitate credit access for beekeepers, increase awareness of the necessity of beekeeping, and encourage government and non-government organizations to supply hives for beekeepers. Moreover, further research is required on the urban honey bee productivity in the town and elsewhere in western Oromia.