VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS OF HONEY: IN SMIEN SHEWA ZONE OFAMHARA ETHIOPIA; CASE OF BASONA WORENA WOREDA

Abstract

This study was conducted in Basona Worena of North shewa Ethiopia in 2016. The objectives of the study was to identify major actors involved in the honey value chain and their function, major opportunities and constraint in honey value chain, the gender role at the farm level and factors affecting market outlet choice of beekeepers. The data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was collected from 220 beekeepers, 8 retailers, 1 cooperative, 3 tej makers and 15 consumers through application of an appropriate simple descriptive statistical procedures .From the surveyed households there were only 5.9 % female-headed HHs. The study result showed that the major value chain actors in the Woreda are input suppliers, beekeepers, retailers, cooperatives, tej makers, exporter and consumers. The support service providers are governmental organizations, and financial institutions. The result showed that the women participation is less in productive activities and decision making as compared with men and women’s participation is higher in reproductive activities as compared with men’s. the major opportunities are higher demand, the presence of dense forest, and constraint in honey value chain are beekeeping, access for training, credit sources and market information. There were four honey market outlet choices in the study area such as trader, cooperative, tej makers, processor and consumer. Simple Descriptive statistic percent result showed that the market outlet choice of the farmers is consumer and distance to the nearest market, membership in cooperative, information access, credit access and mode of sale. Therefore, policies promoting farmers access to modern beekeeping technologies, improving extension service, credit and market information access, gender consideration and cooperative development are recommended to improve honey value chain in the study area. In addition, the study was also required improving the existing honey production and marketing system in the study area