Factors Determining Adoption of Modern Beehive in Mengeshi District, Majang Zone, Gambella Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s Countries that has the largest honey bee population and potential of honey production due to its varied ecological and climatic conditions. However, the products obtained from honeybees were low due to several technical, socio-economic, and institutional constraints. This study is conducted in the Gambella region, Majang zone in Mengeshi District with the objective of assessing the factors that affect the adoption of a modern beehive and its intensity. The primary data was collected from beekeepers through a semi-structured interview schedule. The source of secondary data was from written documents such as journals, books, published documents. A two-stage sampling method was used. In the first stages, 4 kebeles were selected out of 30 kebeles from the study district by using random sampling methods. Then among the selected kebeles, the beekeepers were stratified into adopters and non-adopters of a modern beehive. A total of 172 (45 adopters and 127 non adopters) rural bees keepers were interviewed for this study with a proportional random sampling method. Descriptive analysis tools such as percentage, mean, standard deviations, t-test, and chi-square are used, and Tobit econometric model is applied by using STATA-14. The Tobit model result revealed that educational level, annual income of beekeepers; credit service, extension contact, number of livestock owned, participation in off-farm activities, and participation in training is the main significant factors in adoption decision and intensity use of modern beehive. Therefore, the policymakers and planners of governmental and NGOs must consider when setting their policies and strategies of honey production improvement interventions.