Factors Affecting Adoption of Improved Modern Beehive Technology in West Hararghe Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study attempted to identify adoption status, factors affecting the adoption decision and intensity, and identify major constraints of beekeepers for modern beehive adoption. Agriculture is a backbone of country economy. Beekeeping is one of an agricultural subsector which is a sustainable and low-investment strategy for poverty reduction. Both qualitative and quantitative data collected from a sample of 180 beekeepers which collected from three districts of West Hararghe zone and analyzed using STATA software. Heckman two-stage model was employed for the analyses. In study area less than half of the beekeepers were adopters of modern beehive technology. Heckman two-stage model of first-stage results revealed that households’ decision to adopt modern beehive were influenced by factors such as age of household head, education level, livestock owned (tlu) and number of extension contact. Furthermore, the second-stage results indicated that intensity of modern beehive adoption of households’ was influenced by factors such as distance from FTC, access to accessory, livestock owned (tlu), access to training and number of extension contact. From policy perspective improving distribution of modern beehive with full package; encourage extension service, and focus on the deliverance of training are crucial for the adoption of beekeeping technologies and increasing honey production.