Constraints to honey production in Arapai sub-county Soroti district.

Abstract

This study was conducted in Arapai Sub County Soroti district to find out the constraints to honey production. The objective was to determine the constraints to honey production. Therefore, 80 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed using a questionnaire which was pretested before the commencement of data collection. The data collected was analysed using statistical package of social scientists (SPSS version 16) to find the frequencies and percentages which are presented using tables, graphs and pie charts. The study revealed that 80% of the respondents were married and this provided the family labor. More than 60% had attained at least a secondary level of education. 76.2% kept the bees for home consumption and generation of income and the majority (62.5%) used traditional bee hives made out of tree logs. The study reveals that majority of the farmers in the study area (87.5%)have less than 10 bee hives on average. Most farmer’s experiences disease outbreaks (American fowl brood) and pests Varroamites and ants. It was also noted that majority of the bee farmers (9.5%) don't have harvesting equipment such as smoker, gears etc., which reduced the quality of the honey. In conclusion therefore. the main constraints to honey production are; lack of experience, poor bee hives management, pests and diseases, lack of capital to buy modem bee hives, lack of equipments for harvesting and processing honey etc. From the results, it can be recommended that the farmers should establish a close linkage with the various service providers who provide services such as training equiprnents such as smokers, gears etc. and marketing information and linkages. Beekeepers should also form associations and organized into cooperative societies at the local and regional and national levels. This will enable them to access services e.g. training and extension services and enhance collective marketing through which they can negotiate for better prices.