Volume 14, Issue 1, 2025

05 Volume 14, Issue 1 Honey Value Chain Analysis in South-Western, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Honey Value Chain Analysis in South-Western, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Author(s): Dirriba Mengistu and Sinbone Tefera
DOI: doi.org/10.56527/jabm.14.1.5
Keywords: Constraints, Honey, Map, Performance, Value Chain
Abstract:In Oromia, smallholders dominated the honey production system, in which traditional colonies account for about 98% of the total colony. Despite huge government efforts in the sector, farmers are still resisting modern beehives, even though their productivity remains far higher than other beehives. Besides, the lower relative price of traditional hive’s harvested honey, though the reality behind this dawdler is not evidently justified. Based on this information gap, this study was conducted to examine the honey value chain and challenges along the chain in the Oromia region. The data was collected from 165 randomly selected households and analysed using descriptive statistics and marketing margin. The study indicated that honey production is dominated by the traditional system, where households have an average of 10 MFH, 14 traditional hives, and 7 KTB hives, where the traditional colony dominates the production. However, limited supply and competition for scarce honey make honey marketing challenging. In the current situation, the honey supply functions flow through five marketing channels, and as the distance from the source increases, the quality of the honey deteriorates. The Oromia region's honey production faces challenges due to a fragmented, leaked, and poorly coordinated value chain. The traditional model limits the region's potential and reduces beekeeping income. Thus, diversifying income, promoting other products, exploiting honey production, and developing a model value chain and an inclusive strategy need critical intervention to overcome challenges along the honey value chain in the region.
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