ADOPTION OF IMPROVED BOX HIVE TECHNOLOGY AND PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS: THE CASE OF BULE HORA WOREDA, WEST GUJI ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Beekeeping is common and one of the agricultural activities used as good source of off-farm income to farmers in Ethiopia in generally, and particularly in the study area. As part of the effort to encourage and increase honey production the regional government disseminates considerable number of improved box hives to farmers as technology promotion. The objectives of the study are to identify determinant of adoption of improved box hive technology and profitability of smallholder farmers in Bule Hora woreda, west Guji zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data sources and qualitative and quantitative data types were utilized. Multi-stage sampling was employed to identify sample respondents. The sample respondents were stratified into adopters and non-adopters of improved box hive. Out of 148 total sample respondents 30 adopters and 118 non-adopters were identified. The data were collected using structured interview schedule, key informant discussion and observation. Descriptive statistics, partial budgeting technique and econometric models were employed. Partial budgeting result reveals that the beekeepers benefited by adopting improved box hive. OLS model results reveals the extension contact, honey quantity produced, selling price, and total number of hive under production were significant factors affecting profitability of adopters. The first hurdle result of adoption decision of improved box hive indicated that beekeeping experience, distance to woreda town, frequency of extension contact, sex, age, education status, access to input were significant factors. Moreover, the second hurdle result of intensity of improved box hive adoption revealed that frequency of extension contact, livestock holding, age, sex, access to input, family size and labor force were found to be significant factors. Thus, the woreda office of agriculture and rural developments, NGO’s and concerned stockholders should give due attention to these significant variables in the study area to boost improved box hive adoption and its intensity use thereby increase profitability of small holder beekeepers.