Ethiopia has a long history of beekeeping and is one of the largest producers of honey and beeswax in Africa. Beekeeping is practiced across Ethiopia's diverse agroecological zones and involves traditional, transitional, and modern beehive methods. Key challenges to beekeeping include diseases, climate impacts, and loss of foraging lands. Despite challenges, beekeeping remains important for incomes, nutrition, and pollination in Ethiopia.

1. BEEKEEPING PRACTICES OF
ETHIOPIA
Arse GebeyehuWode
Nov 3, 2015

2. Content of the slides
 Introduction to Ethiopia
 Ethiopian agro-ecology and biodiversity
 History of Beekeeping in Ethiopia
 Honeybees’ forages resource
 Honeybee races in the country
 Beehives and its production capacities
 Honey and beeswax production
 Socio-econonmic importance
 Contemporary challenges

3. Introduction to Ethiopia
 Located: on the horn of Africa (GPS coordinate: 9.0167° N, 38.7500° E)
 Population: 96.51 million by 2014,
 2nd populous nation in Africa
 13th populous nation in the world
 Area: 1.1 million square kilometer
 Area: 26th largest country in the world
 GDP: 9th largest economy in Africa
 Became the most populous landlocked country in the world after Eritrea seceded
 Ethiopia: Land of beauties

4. Ethiopian agro-ecology and biodiversity
 Ethiopia have 18 different agro-ecological zones
 Home for most diverse flora and fauna in Africa
 Its woodland and natural forests consist of various species of plant that provide surplus nectar and
pollen to foraging bees
 Ethiopia has a wide range of altitudes favoring the existence of different types of natural vegetation
that includes dense forests, bushes, herbs, weeds and undergrowth

5. Ethiopian agro… continued
 There are about 7,000 plants species that have been identified to exist in the country, out of which more
400 are identified as nectar and pollen sources
 As a result, Ethiopia has the largest bees population in Africa with over 10 million bee colonies, of which
up to 7.5 million are estimated to be hived while 2.5 million lives in the forest and crevices
 These all indicates Ethiopia has a huge natural resource base for honey production

6. Worth knowing:
 The lowest altitude in Ethiopia is a place called Danakil and has 125 meters
below sea level, 6th lowest places on earth
 The highest altitude in Ethiopia is mount Ras Dashen and has 4,625 meter
above sea level, 23rd tallest mountain in the world

7. Ethiopian agro… continued
Some forests are magical places of rich biodiversity

8. History of Beekeeping in Ethiopia
 History books: beekeeping has started in the country between 3,500 - 3,000 BC
 Ethiopian practices beekeeping as an integral part of other agricultural activities
 Currently more than 2 million households practices beekeeping as their major livelihood
 But beekeeping sector is mainly dominated by small-scale farmers
 In rural area both men and women carry out beekeeping in home gardens and
even in houses
 There is no a single ethnic group or tribe in Ethiopia who
doesn't practice beekeeping

9. History of Beekeeping in Ethiopia continued
 Honey Hunting is common in few remote west and southwest parts of the
country
 There is Forest Beekeeping System that is still being practiced in the forest
covered areas
 Backyard beekeeping is the most common type of beekeeping in the country
including urban areas
 Beekeeping is mostly practiced in traditional way, in small scale

10. Honeybees’ forage resources
 So far, more than 400 plants have been identified as major honeybees’ forage but their presence varies
from one part of the country to the other
 Therefore, it is expected to have a very diversified honey types from this diversified honeybee forages

11. Serial
number
Scientific name local name Common name Plant Type
1 Maytenus obscura Gora Spike thorn Shrub
2 Duranta repens Kombolcha Golden dewdrop Shrub
3 Vernonia amygdalina Ebicha Bitter leaf Shrub
4 Vernonia auriculata Reji Ironweed Shrub
5 Hypoestes forskali Dergu Herb
6 Syzgium guineense Badessa Waterberry Tree
7 Eucalyptus spp bargemo Tree
8 Apodytes dimidiate Oda beda Tree
9 Acacia sibirana Lafto Tree
10 Prunus Africana Miessa Tree
11 Schefflera abyssinica Gatame Tree
12 Croton macrostachys Mokonisa Afrikankrotoni Tree
13 Guizotia scabra Adala Sunflecks Herb
14 Cordia Africana Wodesa Tree
15 Dovalis abyssinica Koshim Shrub
16 Caucanthus auriculatus Gale Climber
17 Schinus molle Turimanturi Peruvian pepper Tree
Honeybeeforages

12. Honeybee races in the country
The honeybee colonies in Ethiopia are grouped in to five different honeybee races occupying ecologically
different areas of the country
Ex:
 Apis mellifera jemenitica mainly found in the northwest and eastern part of the country
 Apis mellifera scutellata mainly found in the west, south and southwest part of the country
 Apis mellifera bandasii, in the central part of the country
 Apis mellifera monticola from the northern mountainous highlands
 Apis mellifera woyi-gambella in south western parts of the country
 Currently, about 10,000,000 colony exists in the country
 Ranks 1st in Africa and 9th in the world

13. Beehives and its production capacities
 Traditional beekeeping is mostly practiced with different types of traditional hives
 Hives are very much diversified in shape, volume and the materials used depending on the cultural
differences and the local materials available for construction
 Colonies in traditional beehives account for about 90% of the total hived honeybee population
 The productivity of traditional hives is low and the average yield is only about 5–8kg(11-17.6lbs)/per
colony/per annum
 The annual honey production in the country is increasing and has reached quite higher than 71,200MT in
2014

14. Beehives and its production capacities continued
Three types beehives are being used in the country
1. Traditional hives – no frame
2. Transitional or intermediate hives – moveable top-bar
3. Modern hives (only langstroth) – moveable frame
In proportion of the above 3 types of hives: 90% 3% and 7% of traditional, intermediate and modern hives respectively

15. Traditional hives
Traditional hives: are cylindrical in shape with a little bit over 1m (3.28
foot) in length and diameter of around 20cm (0.66 foot)

16. Intermediate / Transitional hives

17. Intermediate/transition hives in the backyard apiary

18. Beehives and its production capacities
 Traditional hive produces 64% nationally produced honey with 5.5kg (12.1lb) honey per hive per
harvest
 Intermediate hive contributes about 6% of national production but 20kg (44lb) honey per hive harvest
 Modern hives contributes about 30% of national production with 33kg (72.7lb) honey per hive harvest

19. Honey and beeswax production
 Honey production: 1st in Africa and 9th in the world
 Beeswax production:1st in Africa and 3rd largest in the world
 More than 5,200MT beeswax being produced, 3rd in the world

20. Honey production
Ethiopia
 Honey: 71,220MT
 Honeybees Colony: 7.5
million
U.S.A
 Honey 80,000MT
 Honeybees Colony 2.74 million
Canada
Honey: 75,488MT
Honeybees Colony : 672
thousand
• But 85% of the honey is locally consumed for the brewing of ‘Tej’ (honey-wine, a mild alcoholic beverage
popular throughout Ethiopia) leaving only 15% for export
• There are generally two honey harvesting seasons: the major one that lasts from October to November and
the secondary one from April to June
• In addition to these major harvesting periods, there are many small harvesting periods which depend on the
type of flowering plants and rainfall patterns

21. Honey production and consumption
 Table honey is also widely consumed in Ethiopia
 No family celebration or gathering can take place in Ethiopia without Tej, honey-wine
 The largest portion of honey produced in the country comes from forest beekeeping; the practice of
honey collection from colonies in forest
 Honey is also considered as medicine to cure some ailments

22. Beeswax production
 There is an annual beeswax (honey comb) production of 5,200MT
 It is largely collected from traditional hives rather than modern hives
 The beeswax yield from traditional hives is 8 - 10 percent of the honey yield, compared to 0.5 - 2
percent from modern hives
 Ethiopian beeswax is a by-product of the Tej production and mainly exported and also used in religious
ceremonies and floor waxing
 After China and Mexico, Ethiopia is the 3rd largest wax producing country

23. Beeswax processing
 Purifying wax


24. Socio-economic importance
Dietary use:
 Honey is a useful source of high-carbohydrate food, and usually contains a rich diversity of minor
constitutes (minerals, vitamins, and proteins), adding nutritional quality to human diets
Source of income:
 The most important income-generating activities in the rural communities
Pollination service:
 Play a significant role in increasing yield of crop
Social benefits:
 Has considerable socio-cultural significance, Tej (honey wine)

25. Places where beekeepers place their hives
 Backyard
 Hanging on tree near home stead
 Hanging on trees in the forest

26. Apiary farm

27. Modern (Langstroth) hives at backyard
Running beekeeping side by side with other agricultural activities

28. Contemporary challenges
Recently seen diseases
 American foulbrood
 European foulbrood
 Wax-moth
 Varoa-mites
Agricultural related problems
 Lack of affordable beekeeping
equipment
 Climate change causing drought
 Agro-chemincal intoxication
 Lack of necessary beekeeping
skills
 Reduction of honeybee colony
due agro-ecology disturbance
 Market problem – deflation
Already existing problems
Pest and predators
Absconding/migration
Frequent swarming
Diminishing forests

29. Name: Arse Gebeyehu
Phone: +1-647-706-0571
Email: arse.gebeyehu@yahoo.com
Twitter: ArseGebeyehu
Facebook: Arse Gebeyehu
LinkedIn: Arse Gebeyehu
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