Assessing the factors that influence value addition to honey among bee farmers in Kakiri Sub-County, Wakiso District

Abstract

The study was about assessing the factors that influence value addition to Honey among bee-farmers in Kakiri sub-county, Wakiso district. This study was guided by three objectives which were to; identify the apiculture value added products produced by bee farmers, establish the importance of apiculture farming bee keepers, establish the factors that influence value addition to Honey of bee keepers and evaluate the challenges faced by bee farmers in adding value to apicultural products. The study employed a descriptive research design which used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study used purposive and simple random sampling procedure to arrive at the categories of respondents. The study used the sample size of 86 respondents. The study used both questionnaire and interview guide to collect data from respondents. The collected data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) and Stata. Results show that, bees wax, honey, wax candles, propolis were the major apiculture value added products produced by bee farmers. The results also show that, increasing rural income through helping rural communities to break out of poverty, creation of self-employment among beekeepers, increasing crop production through pollination, were the major contributions of value added apicultural products on the household income of bee keepers. The study concluded that there were contributions of value added apicultural products on the standards of living of bee keepers. These included; improved nutritional status, ability to pay children school fees, improved household food security and reduction of infective intestinal problems. The factors that influence value addition to honey are shown as education, marital status and number of beehives. The major challenges faced by bee keepers were, lack of knowledge on the use of modern hives, price fluctuations, lack of enough resources, conflicts between beekeepers and neighbors, limited bee inputs and limited knowledge on making bee products. Education and trainings on apicultural value addition activities should be provided to the beekeepers and community at large. The central government should ensure that extension officers reach villages so that beekeepers can easily access knowledge on how to conduct the beekeeping activities. The government through operation wealth creation should subsidize bee keeping equipments to beekeepers at low costs to enhance production of Honey and motivate the beekeepers to add value to honey.