Identification of Honeybee Flora and Evaluation of Beekeeping Production Systems in Somali Region, Ethiopia
Abdi Abdilahi
Livestock and Forage Research Directorate, Somali Region Livestock and Agricultural Research Institute, Jigjiga, Ethiopia and Department of Animal and Range Science, College of Dryland Agriculture, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
Kownin Abdimahad
*
Department of Animal and Range Science, College of Dryland Agriculture, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
Abdulahi Mahamed
Livestock and Forage Research Directorate, Somali Region Livestock and Agricultural Research Institute, Jigjiga, Ethiopia and Department of Animal and Range Science, College of Dryland Agriculture, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
Mohamed Kumane
Natural Resource Research Directorate, Somali Region Livestock and Agricultural Research Institute, Jigjiga, Ethiopia and Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Dryland Agriculture, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was conducted two potential zones of Somali region to assess and characterize honeybee flora and beekeeping production practices. For this study six districts were selected using purposive sampling methods. A total of 120 beekeepers with equal proportion from the six districts were selected randomly. The study comprises two parts including assessment about bee keeping production practices and field work with honeybee flora identification. The result of the study indicated that 79.2 % of total sampled households were male headed households. The primary reason of beekeeping production in the study areas was income generation and consumption as majority (75%) of the respondents implied. The traditional hives were the most commonly used hives as majority (65%) of the respondents implied and main source of their foundation colonies was by catching the swarms. The overall honey yield was 6.125+0.59 and 11.56±0.43 per hives per harvesting season in traditional and modern hives respectively. The honey harvesting is carried out at nighttime. pest and predators, absconding and scarcity of water were major constrains of beekeeping production in the study areas. The major pest and predators limiting the beekeeping production in the study areas were ants and Honey badgers. A total of 2,366 honeybee forage plants were representing a wide range of genera and families. The most dominant species were Acacia Senegal locally known as “Cadaad” with 490 individuals (20.71%). Among the study sites Salahad and Lagahida districts recorded the highest number of forage plants with 500 & 498 individuals respectively and were categorised as areas of “much more abundance” identified which belong to different genera and families containing fifteen species were identified and recorded. These findings highlight significant spatial variation in honeybee forage resources and indicate that Salahad and Lagahida districts possess the greatest potential for beekeeping development and increased honey production. The study emphasizes the need for improved honey harvesting, processing, and storage practices to improve honey quality of the beekeepers. The studied districts have high production potential for honeybee floras which is suitable beekeeping production therefore further research is required in the areas of participatory research action through community participatory approach and foraging is highly recommended.
Keywords: Beekeeping, honeybee flora, production practices, bee hives