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ABSTRACT
This study was initiated to analyze honey marketing chains particularly in Atsbi Wemberta
District, Eastern Zone of Tigray Region. The focus of the study was, to analyze the structure of
production costs and determine profitability of the production, to analyze the determinants of
honey supply in the study area, identify the major constraints and supply of the commodity to
the market, to evaluate structure-conduct-performance of honey marketing. The data were
generated by individual interview and group discussions using pre-tested semi structured
questionnaires and checklists. This was supplemented by secondary data collected from
different published and unpublished sources. Robust OLS regression econometric model was
used to analyze the determinants of honey marketable supply. The results obtained from this
analysis indicates that education level of the household head, price of honey in 1999 E.C. and
the quantity of honey produced were found to be the most important positively significant
variables influencing honey marketable supply of the District. The channel analysis of the
commodity indicated a very short route. The main market participants for honey marketing of
the District during the survey period were honey collectors, retailers and processors. Besides, a
significant amount of honey produced is channeled directly to consumers from producers
(434%). The honey marketing performance was also measured using marketing margins
complemented with analysis of costs and gross profits generated by different marketing channel
actors. Major problems of the production identified and prioritized by beekeepers in the study
area were drought, pests and diseases of honey bee, lack of beekeeping equipments, death of
colony, marketing problems, and shortage of bee forage and lack of adequate beekeeping skill.
Based on the study results, interventions demanded to raise marketable supply of honey
produced are recommended.
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study
Africa is blessed with numerous types of wild honeybee (Adjare, 1990). Ethiopia is one of the
countries of the continent which own big honey production potential. Owing to its varied
ecological and climatic conditions, Ethiopia is home to some of the most diverse flora and
fauna in Africa. Its forests and woodlands contain diverse plant species that provide surplus
nectar and pollen to foraging bees (Girma, 1998). Beekeeping is one of the oldest farming
practices in the country. There is an ancient tradition for beekeeping in Ethiopia which
stretches back into the millennia of the country’s early history (Girma, 1998). Of all countries
in the world probably no country has a longer tradition of beekeeping than Ethiopia
(Hartmann, 2004). It has been practiced traditionally. Moreover, beekeeping is an appropriate
and well-accepted farming technology and it is best suited to extensive range of ecosystems of
tropical Africa. To date, over 10 million of bee colonies are existing, which include both feral,
and hived ones (Ayalew, 2001).
Ethiopia is the largest honey producer in Africa and 10th largest honey producer all over the
world. Also considerable amount of wax is produced in the country. On a world level,
Ethiopia is fourth in beeswax and tenth in honey production (Girma, 1998). Ethiopia, having
the highest number of bee colonies and surplus honey sources of flora, is the leading producer
of honey and beeswax in Africa. Ethiopia produces around 23.6% and 2.1% of the total Africa
and World’s honey, respectively.
The total honey production of Ethiopia is estimated up to 24000 metric tones; only a small
amount of this is marketed. Besides poor marketing conditions the main reason is that about
80% of the total Ethiopian honey production goes in to the local Tej-preparation, a honey
wine, which consumed as national drink in large quantities (Hartmann, 2004).
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However, the products obtained from this sub sector are still low as compared to the potential
of the country. Although thousands of tones of honey are produced every year it is usually
poorly managed and unattractive in appearance. Because of this its place in the local market
being taken by imported honey. Moreover, traditional hive honey is of good quality as long as
it is in the hive. Faulty handling, from the time of its harvest until it reaches to market is
responsible for its inferior quality. The type of hives used the methods of removing and
storage of honey play a vital role in the quality of honey (Crane 1970, as cited by Edessa,
2005).
Ethiopia’s wide climatic and edaphic variability have endowed this country with diverse and
unique flowering plants, thus making it highly suitable for sustaining a large number of bee
colonies and the long established practice of beekeeping. Nevertheless, the bees and the plants
they depend on, like all renewable natural resources, are constantly under threat from lack of
knowledge and appreciation of these endowments (Girma, 1998).
MARKET CHAIN ANALYSIS OF HONEY PRODUCTION: IN ATSBI WEMBERTA DISTRICT, EASTERN ZONE OF TIGRAY NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE
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