Assessment of Beekeeping Practices in Selected Urban Areas of East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia

The beekeeping status of urban land was assessed in Sheshemene, Wondo, Negele Arsi, Bishoftu, Modjo and Batu urban areas of Oromia regional State, Ethiopia. Data were collected from purposively selected 130 urban residents through a formal survey. The survey was covered about 81.7% of men respondents in all the urban beekeeping areas and the highest percentage (30%) of the respondents were found in secondary schools. Most of the respondents (70%) in the study area were practicing modern beekeeping of which about 35.9% were owned an average of five bee colonies. In the study area, 83.3% of the respondents were owned private honeybee colonies in urban areas. The majority of respondents (34.9%) have had a bee farm for more than 15 years. The majority of respondents (68.3%) were gathered the honeybee colonies through purchasing and only 8.3% were accessed swarm catching. About 76.9% of beekeepers “sometimes “visit their bees, and the rest beekeepers did not visit or inspect their bees at all. About 33.8% of the beekeepers visit their bees only externally, and 23.1% of beekeepers were visit occasionally. The main constraints of beekeeping in the urban areas were the lack of bee equipment, bee pests and diseases, the lack of improved beekeeping skills and extension services. In general, the present study revealed information on the status and challenges of beekeeping in urban areas. Improving urban beekeeping and the assessment of its potential in urban areas are a vital for future study. Moreover, urban beekeeping should also be supported by trainings and extension services.