Performance Evaluation of Indigenous Honey Extractor

Apiculture is becoming popular and more lucrative in Nigeria, and one of its major challenges is theextraction process of honey from its comb. This study evaluated an existing honey extractor fabricated atthe Department of Agricultural Technology of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, to assess its efficiency,productivity, and overall performance. The evaluation was carried out by extracting honey fromhoneycombs weighing 15 kg, 10 kg, and 5 kg while keeping the extraction time constant at 30 minutes. Theresults show that the extractor achieved an average extraction efficiency of 87% and a throughput of 0.45kg/min. The study identified key factors influencing the extractor’s performance and providedrecommendations for optimizing its operation. It is also recommended based on the findings of this researchthat the honey extractor evaluated can be produced en-masse for peasant beekeeping farmers. This willgreatly benefit the apiculture industry in producing quality honey for consumption and commercial purposes.