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

Table 28: Results of honey in the study areas compared to National and International standardStandardsStudy AreaResultCharacteristics tested World FAO/WHO National (Mean)1 Moisture content, % by mass 18 – 23 21 – 23 21max. 18.82 Total ash, % by mass 0.25 – 1 0.6 – 1 0.60 max. 0.273 Total reducing sugar 60 – 70 65 min 65 min. 65.734 Sucrose content, % by mass 3 – 10 5 – 10 5max. 1.655 Acidity, milli equiv. acid/kg 5 – 54 40/kg 40/kg 28.836 Hydrixymethylfurfural mg/100g 40 -80 80 max 40max. 38.557 Diastase 3-10 - 3 min. 8.928 pH 3.2 - 4.5 - - 3.53Source: Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia (2005)4.5 Constraints and Opportunities of BeekeepingIn order to utilize the beekeeping sub sector, identifying the existing constraints and searchingfor solutions are of paramount importance. The participants identified 18 major constraints. Allproblems cannot be solved at once because of time and capital shortage. As a result,prioritization of the problems was made to identify the most important constraints that hinder thedevelopment of beekeeping sub sector in the study area.Based on the result of this study, beekeepers much suffered from a number of difficulties andchallenges that are antagonistic to the success desired in honey production. Major problems inbeekeeping arise from bee characteristics or environmental factors that are beyond the control ofthe beekeepers, while others have to do with poor marketing infrastructure and storage facilities.After having identified the major problems facing the beekeeping activities, farmers wererequested to list their priority in order of importance. According to the response of thebeekeepers and available information on major challenges of the beekeepers, the first constraintof honeybee production is lack of beekeeping equipment (Table 27).78