Assessment of Honey and Beeswax Production with Market Opportunities and Challenges in Ethiopia

Abstract

This assessment was attempted to look honey and beeswax production with market opportunities and constraints in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a huge honey and beeswax production potential. Beekeeping in Ethiopia is a long-standing agricultural practice. It has been exercised as a sideline activity by many of the rural farming communities for its honey and beeswax production that contributes to income generation. According to this assessment the major constraints of honey and beeswax production and marketing in Ethiopia are: no legal framework of honey and beeswax marketing, low quality and quantity of production, adulteration, absence of accredited laboratories within the country for residue testing which is affecting companies engaged in export market, disorganized supply chain, absence of labeling and packaging services, very limited access to medium to long term credit services, inadequate knowledge and expertise on the part of the beekeepers, destruction of forest reserves, modern beekeeping equipment is expensive and difficult to obtain, lack of effective apiculture extension services, limited research for development, no appropriate honey collecting centers with appropriate processing and packaging equipment, lack of mandatory quality assurance system, poor transportation system for products from production points through processing units to the market, lack of adequate market information, limited promotional activities for bee products in both the local and export markets, market assessment for both local and export market dynamics have not been given attention and  prevalence of cross boarder traders affecting national export performance of the country.

Keywords: Honey and beeswax potential, market opportunity, marketing constraints, honey and beeswax export

DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/86-01

Publication date:September 30^th 2022