Viability and Challenges of Apiculture for Honey Production at Wildlife Management Institute at New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the viability and challenges of apiculture for honey production at Wildlife Management Institute at New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria using primary and secondary data sources with the aid of questionnaire and personal observation. . The results of the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area shows that majority (83.3%) of the respondents were male. The age group of the respondents reveals that most of respondents (58.3%) falls between the ages of 31-40 years. The marital status of the respondents indicated that majority were married (87.5%) while 12.5% were single. The results of the method used indicated that (91.7%) used modern hive while 8.3% indicated tree trunk. The purpose of beekeeping revealed that majority (11) responses for student practical, 7 responses for income purposes, 4 responses for consumption purpose while 2 responses for medicinal purpose. The challenges of beekeeping in the study area showed that majority (54.2%) of the respondents indicate inadequate fund as the major challenges, followed by fire with 33.3% while swarming recorded the least with 4.2%. The possible solution as suggested by the respondents are adequate funding (37.5%), follows by provision of beekeeping equipment