Adoption and intensity of modern bee hive in Wag Himra and North Wollo zones, Amhara region, Ethiopia

Wag Himra zone is one of the Amhara Regional State which has a potential honey production and it is a quite suitable for apiculture activities. The objectives of the study were (1) quantifying the determinant factors of the probability of adoption, (2) evaluating the intensity use of modern beehive and (3) identifying the major constraints of modern beehive production in wag Himra and north Wollo zones, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling methods were employed. 268 rural beekeepers were interviewed for this study with proportional random sampling method from adopters and non-adopters. Among the 268 beekeepers, 97 (36.19%) and 171 (63.81%) were non-adopters and adopters respectively. Descriptive analysis and econometric (double-hurdle model) were applied using SPSS-22 and STATA-12, respectively. The first hurdle result revealed that age, the number of livestock owned, educational level, the number of local hives beekeepers possessed, training provided, the the total annual income of beekeepers, credit service, distance to Woreda agricultural office, extension service and participation in off-farm activities are the main factors that affect the probability of adoption decision. Moreover, the second hurdle revealed that age, the number of local hives beekeepers possessed, training access, credit service, and distance to Woreda agricultural office are the main factors that affect the intensity use of modern beehive. Additionally, Pests and predators, drought and lack of bee equipment and accessories are ranked as the first, second and third major constraints of beekeeping respectively which lead the bee colony to abscond and reduction of honey yield. According to the finding the authors safely recommended that those significant factors in adoption decision and intensity use of modern beehive should be considered by policy makers and planners of governmental and NGOs in setting their policies and strategies of honey production improvement interventions.