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

4.2.2 Reason for involvement in beekeeping and experiences in beekeepingAccording to the results of this survey, reasons for involvement of the farmers in beekeeping areincome generating activity (79.2%) followed by easy to perform with other agricultural activities(10.0%), income is used for different house expense (5%), inheritance from parents (4.2%) anddue to training (1.6%). The level of beekeepers' experience was taken to be the number of yearsthat an individual was continuously engaged in beekeeping.Involvement in beekeeping is significant (p < 0.01) correlated with age, having a correlationcoefficient of 0.66 and which was in line with Gichora (2003). Thus one could expect thesituation where people are actively engaged from an early age in helping older beekeepers toundertake basic tasks. Based on their exposure, young people gradually move on to becomeindependent beekeepers as soon as they can obtain their own hives. They continue accumulatingexperience by seeking technical advice from fellow beekeepers whenever necessary (Gichora,2003). Reasons and sources for involvement in beekeeping are indicated in Table 8.Table 8: Sources of bee colonies and Reason to engage in beekeeping in Bure districtTotal sample (n=120)Sources % Reason %Catching swarms 34.2 Income generating activity 79.2Buying 25.0 Easy to perform together with other activity 10.0Gift from parents 22.5 House expense 5.0Training 10.0 Inherited from parents 4.2Agri. Office 8.3 Training 1.6Total 100.0 Total 100.045