The Role of Women and Indigenous Knowledge in Honeybee Production in Amaro Special Wereda and Enebse Sar Midir Wereda

Kerealem Ejigu 1 , Nuru Adgaba 2 , Wagayehu Bekele 3

1 Alemaya University , Department of Animal Science

2 Holeta Bee Research Center

3 Alemaya University , Department of Agricultural Economics

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of women and indigenous knowledge in honeybee production of Amaro and Enebse Agri-Service Ethiopia operational weredas in 2004 production period. Beekeeping in the study areas was dominantly a man's occupation and only a few women beekeepers were engaged in Enebse. (6.67%). T he women keep bees or help a family member to harvest honey. However, in Amaro beekeeping is exclusively a male occupation. Beekeepers in the study areas use different indigenous knowledge. Promotion of local innovations and introducing affordable and appropriate beekeeping technology in the form of movable comb tob-bar (MCTB) hive may be one step towards increasing women participation.