Perception of Farmers Towards the Use of Modern Beehives Technology in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was sought to ascertain determinants of adoption of modern beehives technology in North Gondar zone. A multi stage sampling method was employed to select 130 sample farm households using probability proportional to size. Descriptive statistics and binary logit model were used for analyzing the quantitative data. The results of this study indicated that 33 (25.6%) of the sampled beekeepers were adopters, whereas the remaining 96 (74.4%) were non-adopters. The determinant factors affecting adoption of the technology were analyzed by logit model and the result showed that, education, off-farm income, availability of credit, beekeeping training and perception in the price of box hives were important factors influencing adoption of modern beehives technology in the study area. Demographic variables like sex and age, farmer’s participation in peasant association (PA) administration, land holding size, participation of new technologies and labour availability were less powerful in explaining farmer’s adoption of modern beehives technologies that indicates the two groups were homogeneous with regard to these variables. Thus, special adult education programs must be promoted and expanded in rural areas as a precondition for facilitating technology adoption and awareness training supported by practical demonstration must be arranged to farmers before any technological intervention is taken place either by government or non-governmental organizations. In addition credit should also be given as a part of the package for the proper adoption of the technology.