Determinants of Export Performance of Honey Industry in Ethiopia

The study was conducted to identify the determinants of export performance of honey industry in Ethiopia and to establish trends of the Ethiopian honey export volume and honey export value. Specifically, the study aimed to assess factors that determine the export performance of existing Ethiopian honey exporters, to identify the extent at which the determinants have an effect on performance of Ethiopian honey export industry, and to assess the trends of Ethiopian honey export in volume and value. In the study a descriptive and explanatory research designs were adopted and the sampling technique (non-probabilitypurposive sampling technique) was used to select sample of 96 sample size from 24 Ethiopian honey exporting firms. The data collection methods; primary and secondary methods were applied to collect the data. The analysis of the secondary data showed that the trends of the Ethiopian honey export volume and honey export value showed an average decline rate of 53% and 51.5% respectively during 2011-2020. The result of primary data indicate that domestic market price and application of agrochemicals on crops, and adulteration mixing honey with other products negatively affect honey export performance with (mean 4.30 and Std dev 0.645), and (mean = 4.43 and std dev =.597), and (mean= 4.48 and std dev= .525) negatively affect honey export performance. Honey marketing legal framework revealed mean value (mean = 4.43, std dev= .637), laboratory service (mean 4.36 and std dev = .636), storage and packaging materials with (mean = 4.33 and std dev= .633) by suppliers and producers, financial credit services (mean= 4.10 and Std dev = .640), and supply of honey (mean= 4.31 and mean= .675) positively affect honey export performance in Ethiopia. The study recommends Ethiopia to have mandatory honey standard, technical supervision and follow up must be strong to reduce adulteration of honey and enhance quality as it is the major criteria of export standard, establishment of new policies on application of agrochemical crops and pesticides, creating suitable condition to produce honey storage and packaging materials in the country, increase production volume to stabilize domestic market price and increase export performance. Keywords: Ethiopia: Export Performance: Market: Honey Export Volume: Honey Export Value