Honeybee Production and Marketing Systems, Constraints - IPMS ...

3.1.2 Topography, Altitude and ClimateAccording to WARDO (2008) in Burie district, plain land comprises 76%; hilly (mountainous)topography covers about 10% of the area while valley and undulating area make up 7% and 7%of the district, respectively. The altitude of the district ranges from 713- 2604 meters above sealevel (m.a.s.l), and temperature ranges from 17 o C-25 o C.Burie district is categorized into lowland (21.77%), midland (77.23%) and highland (1%). Thesoil type in the district covers red soil 63%, black soil 17% and brown soil 20%. Its annualrainfall varies from 1386 - 1757 mm. This is in fact the main source of water for the rain fedagriculture. The rainfall of the district generally has a unimodal pattern that usually starts aroundMay and stops in September (WARDO, 2008).3.1.3 Livestock and Honeybee PotentialThe livestock population of Burie district is estimated to be 89,836 cattle, 52,304 sheep, 13,523goats, 6,716 donkeys, 228 mules, 620 horse and 55,190 poultry. There are about 14,771honeybee colonies which is 1.5% of the total colonies in the region (WARDO, 2008).Livestock is considered as an important component in the farming system of the district. Hencefarmers in the study area hold livestock species such as cattle, equines (horses, asses and mules),small ruminants, poultry and bee colonies, which serve the household as source of draft power,meat, milk, honey and beeswax, income, manure and means of transportation. Beekeeping is anintegral part of the animal husbandry in the study area.25