Production practices, trends, constraints and opportunities of beekeeping in Arba Minch Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Beekeeping is an integral component of animal husbandry and it has highly untapped potential for generating household income for rural livelihood. The study was conducted to assess beekeeping practices, honey production trends, constraints and opportunities of beekeeping in Arba Minch Zuria District of Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The district was selected purposively based on its beekeeping potential and stratified into three agro-ecological zones. Seven representative Kebeles from the District were selected proportional to their agro-ecological variations. A total of 156 beekeepers were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Cross-sectional type of study was conducted to generate data through formal survey. The quantitative and qualitative data were summarized and analysed using one way ANOVA and cross tabulations, respectively. Result Mixed crop-livestock farming system was primary means of livelihood in the study area. The result revealed that most (96.8%) of the beekeepers practiced traditional beekeeping system. The average honeybee stocks were about 4.8 ± 1.78 and 5.2 ± 6.98 colonies per household. The average honey yield was 5.8 ± 0.09 kg and 20.1 ± 0.31 kg per year for traditional and modern beehives, respectively. Conclusion There was a decreasing trend of total colony number and honey yield over the last five years (2014–2018). Shortage of bee forage during dearth periods, absconding and honeybee enemies were the most important constraints of beekeeping in the study area, while the availability of huge number of honeybee colonies, existence of ample bee forages and the existence of tourist attraction sites in the study area provides a good market opportunity to sell the honey with a premium price.