Profitability of Honey Production in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Journal of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science Volume 4, Issue 2, 2020, PP 21-29 ISSN 2637-5354 Profitability of Honey Production in Idemili South local Government area of Anambra State, Nigeria Chigbo, C1, Ahaotu, E.O1, 2*, Edih, M.C1, 2 and Olueze, C.C1, 2 1Department of Animal Production Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria 2Department of Animal Production Technology, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: Ahaotu, E.O, Department of Animal Production Technology, Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Nigeria ABSTRACT This study was conducted in sampled communities in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria to identify the major constraints of beekeeping opportunities and suggest possible solution for existing problems. Data were collected from 50 beekeepers having three types of hives and living in three different agro-ecological zones using questionnaires. The major pests and predators are ants, spiders, wasps, lizard, snake and birds. Lack of beekeeping equipment, chemical poisoning by pesticides and herbicides application, shortage of bee forage, drought, knowledge and skill gaps are the major constraints in beekeeping development in order of their importance. The existing beekeeping practice in the study area is more or less in a traditional manner. To sustain the beekeeping activity, there should be introduction of affordable and appropriate beekeeping technologies with all accessories, strengthening the appropriate beekeeping management practices, mobilizing women and non-beekeepers in to sub-sectors through training. Keywords: Beekeepers, Predators, Bee Forage, Beekeeping Management Practices. INTRODUCTION reduce its quality. Amongst the factors that most influence quality is high temperature, length of Africa is blessed with numerous types of wild storage and moisture content greater than 21%. honey-bees (Ahaotu, 2014). Nigeria is one of They lead to fermentation, high levels of Hydroxyl the countries in the continent of Africa, which methyl furfural (HMF), loss of enzymatic activity, own huge honey production potential. Owing to changes in flavor, darkening and microbial growth its varied ecological and climatic conditions, (Moguel et al, 2005). Moisture content is one of the Nigeria has diverse plant species that provide most commonly monitored parameters as surplus nectar and pollen to foraging bees international quality standards for honey (Ahaotu (Ahaotu and Nwachukwu, 2014). et al., 2014). Honey contains a complex mixture of Beekeeping is believed to play a significant role carbohydrates, mainly glucose and fructose; and one of the possible options to the other sugars are present as traces, depending on smallholder farmers in order to sustain their floral origin. It also contains small quantities of livelihood. It does not only serve as a source of organic acids, lactones, amino acids, minerals, additional income, but also quite a number of vitamins, enzymes, phenolic compounds, people entirely depend on beekeeping and volatile compounds, pollen, wax and pigments honey selling for their livelihoods. Nuru (2002) (Oluwalana et al., 2014). The contents of these indicated that honeybee and their products components in honey are the most important provide direct cash income for beekeepers. quality criteria of honey and indicate some Honey processors’ and exporters’ channels also important deterministic quality properties of the start from beekeepers and goes through the local honey (Sahinler and Gul, 2004). agents of honey processors and/or honey Chemical composition of honey mainly depends marketing cooperatives, which supply the honey on the vegetation sources from which it is directly to the processing plants either with derived. External factors like climate, harvesting partial refining or as it is. The processing plants conditions and storage can also influence it further refine the honey using advanced (Ahaotu, 2014). Careless handling of honey can processing devices and pack into labeled Journal of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science V4 ● I2 ● 2020 21 Profitability of Honey Production in Idemili South local Government area of Anambra State, Nigeria containers for local markets (super markets, Longitude: 6° 56' 59.7" (6.9499°) East and food groceries and big hotels) and very often to Elevation: 219 meters (719 feet). export markets. Idemili clan is a conglomeration of 19 towns Nigeria has enormous untapped potential for that make up the present Idemili North and promoting beekeeping; both for local use and Idemili South Local Government Areas of for export purpose. However, like any other Anambra State, Nigeria. Northern Towns that livestock sector, this sub sector has been ceased make up the local government are Abacha, by complicated constraints. The prevailing Abatete, Eziowelle, Ideani, Nkpor, Obosi, Ogidi, production constraints in the beekeeping sub Oraukwu, Uke, and Umuoji. Southern Towns that sector of the country would vary depending on make up the local government are Akwa-Ukwu, the agro ecology of the areas where the activities is Alor, Awka-Etiti, Nnobi, Nnokwa, Oba, Ojoto, carried out (Edessa, 2002). Variations of production Umunachi and Umudioka. constraints also extend in socio-economic Idemili North local government area was conditions, cultural practices, climate (seasons of created out of Idemili local government area in the year) and behaviors of the bees. Ayalew 1989. It is bounded on the north by Oyi and (2001) stated that the major constraints in the Dunukofia local government areas, on the east beekeeping sub sector are the unpleasant by Njikoka and Anaocha local government behaviours of bees (aggressiveness, swarming areas, on the south by Idemili South and west by tendency, and absconding behaviors); lack of Onitsha South local government area. skilled manpower and training institutions; low level of technology used; high price of improved Idemili South Local Government Area was also beekeeping technologies; drought and deforestation created out of Idemili local government area in of natural vegetation; poor post-harvest manage- 1989. It is bounded on the north by Idemili ment of beehive products and marketing North local government area, on the east by constraints; indiscriminate application of Anaocha local government area, on the south by agrochemicals; honeybee disease, pest and Nnewi North and Ekwusigo local government predators; poor extension services; absence of area and on the west by Ogbaru local government coordination between research, extension and area. Idemili South Local Government Area has farmers; absence of policy in apiculture; Land Area of 139, 000 square kilometers, shortage of records and up-to- date information; population: 206,816 (NPC, 2006), communities: and inadequate research institutions to address Ojoto (Head Quarter), Akwa - Ukwu, Alor, Awka- the problems. Etiti, Nnobi, Nnokwa, Oba, Umunachi and Umudioka. Honey contains a complex mixture of carbohydrates, mainly glucose and fructose; Anambra State is an agrarian state with oil palm, other sugars are present as traces, depending on cassava, as the major crops cultivations with the floral origin (Amssalu, 2002). It also contains annual rainfall ranging between 200 to 1200 mm small quantities of organic acids, lactones, (Ahaotu et al., 2019). Apart from arable crops, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and livestock production in the area, Melliferous phenolic compounds, volatile compounds, pollen, flora is common in the area under study. There wax and pigments (Oluwalana et al., 2014). The are a lot of weeds climbers and ornamentals contents of these components in honey are the which are plants visited by the honeybees, the most important quality criteria of honey and common tree plants include rubber, oil palm, indicate some important deterministic quality cocoa, kola apart from these, fruit trees like properties of the honey (Sahinler and Gul, 2004). mango, citrus and guava are scattered around the area which provide good flora for bees MATERIALS AND METHODS (Fadare, 2003). Description of the Study Area Sampling Techniques The study was carried out in Idemili South Local For purpose of this study five (5) communities Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. will be purposively chosen and from each ten Idemili South is one of the Local Government (10) honey farmers will be randomly selected Areas in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. making a total of fifty (50) respondents. The Towns that make up the local government are beekeepers to be sampled will be stratified on Akwu-Ukwu, Alor, Awka-Etiti, Ojoto, Nnokwa, the basis of technology used, whether traditional Oba and Nnobi. Idemili South Local Government or modern. The stratification of beekeepers is Area has Latitude: 6° 2' 51.7" (6.0477°) North, necessary because variables such as hive types 22 Journal of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science V4 ● I2 ● 2020 Profitability of Honey Production in Idemili South local Government area of Anambra State, Nigeria and harvesting/processing equipment have Honey Production and Marketing Systems important contribution to honey output. Simple Honeybee type and behavior, the present random sample was used to select (10) respondents number of hives owned, type of hives used and made of six (6) traditional beekeepers and 4 cost of hives, beekeeping equipment, honey modern beekeepers in each community. This flow and dearth period, amount of honey and will give a total of 20 modern beekeepers and 30 crude beeswax harvested, cost

Load more