Constraints and challenges to apiculture production in Alebtong district.

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to establish constraints and challenges to apiculture production in Alebtong district. A survey was conducted in two subcounties of Awei and Aloi town council all of which have a relatively large number of beekeepers. A total of one hundred farmers were purposely and randomly selected to respond to a standard questionnaire. Majority of respondents were male with 81% dominance over the female who make up only 19%. Majority of the respondents were married with 84% while the divorced respondents made the least percentage of 3%. 73% of respondents attained primary level of education followed by 17% in secondary. One percent did not go to school where as only 9% of apiculture framers in the district attained tertiary education. Majority of apiculture farmers in Alebtong district fall between the age group of 35-50years followed by adults of more than 50 years of age and 3% are respondents below 18 years. 34% of respondents had taken 4 years and above, 30% have practiced apiculture for 3 years while 9% have done apiculture for less than a year. Majority of farmers in Alebtong district practice fixed system of beekeeping with 88% of respondents while only 12% of respondents do migratory system. 80% of farmers in Alebtong district use traditional beehives, followed by transitional beehives at 20% while modern beehive usage stands at 0%. Traditional beehive type has the highest colonization rate at 96% followed by only 4% for transitional beehive type. Respondents highly practice hygiene husbandry at about 42% followed by recordkeeping at 16% while disease control and colony management are the least practiced husbandry at 2% and 1% respectively. Limited knowledge is the major constraint and challenge facing apiculture farming in Alebtong district at 70%. This is followed by pest and parasite infestation at 16% and disease outbreak presented as the least constraint and challenge at 1%. Appropriate prevention and control methods of pests and parasites, especially ants and birds, have to be further studied. The methods should be safe and not impose risks to the bees’ physiology. Also appropriate coping mechanisms for beekeeping during drought have to be further studied which do not pose health risks to the bees.