ISSN 2329-9797
International Journal of Agricultural Economics and Extension ISSN: 2329-9797 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 077-082, February, 2014. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Adoption of improved box hive technology: Analysis of smallholder farmers in Northern Ethiopia
Belets Gebremichael* and Berhanu Gebremedhin**
*Department of Agribusiness and Value Chain Management, Samara University, Ethiopia.
**Post-Doctoral Scientist-Agricultural Economist at the International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 9 January, 2014
Abstract
This study was initiated to analyze factors affecting decision and intensity to adopt improved box hive technology in Ahferom district of northern Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data sources were utilized. Descriptive analysis and econometric (Double-hurdle) model were employed using SPSS-16 and STATA-11, respectively. Of the 130 sample beekeepers, 54.6% and 45.4% were adopters and non-adopters, respectively. Of the adopters’ category 67.6% hold both traditional and improved hives, the rest 32.4% hold only improved box hive. The mean number of improved box hives was 3.10 hives for adopters and 1.69 hives for entire sample with maximum of 11. The first hurdle result indicated that other off/non-farm activity, beekeeping experience, distance to market and frequency of extension contact were significantly affect adoption decision of improved box hive. Moreover, the second hurdle result revealed that other off/non-farm activity, frequency of extension contact, credit access, livestock holding, age, distance to all weather roads were found to be significantly affect intensity of adoption. Therefore, these significant factors in adoption of improved box hive technology should be considered by policy-makers and planners of governmental and NGOs in setting their policies and strategies of honey production improvement interventions.
Key words: Adoption, apiculture, improved box hive, smallholder beekeepers, double-hurdle model.