PROFITABILITY AND ADOPTION OF IMPROVED BEE HIVE TECHNOLOGY AMONG SMALLHOLDER BEEKEEPERS IN DARA WOREDA OF SIDAMA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT Beekeeping is a prevalent farming venture and source of income in Dara Woreda of the Sidama National Regional State, supported by various promotional initiatives. However, the adoption of new technologies is influenced by a range of socioeconomic, institutional, and demographic factors unique to each farm household. To effectively develop and disseminate suitable technologies for farmers, it is essential to understand these contextual factors. This study examines the determinants of modern beehive adoption and analyzes theprofitability of adopting modern beehive technology in Dara Woreda, employing a multistage sampling technique to identify 72 adopters and 76 non-adopters from a total of 148 respondents. Data were collected through structured interviews, group discussions,key informant discussions, and observations, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric models. The profitability analysis reveals that beekeepers adopting modern box hives experience increased profits, yielding a net benefit of 2680 Birr—more than doubling profits compared to traditional hives. Key findings indicate that the educational level of household heads, beekeeping experience, cooperative membership, livestock holding, and access to extension services significantly influence the probability of adopting modern beehive technology. Therefore, targeted training programs to improve educational levels and beekeeping skills, strengthening cooperative memberships for knowledge sharing, enhancing access to extension services, establishing financial support mechanisms, and conducting awareness campaigns showcasing the benefits of modern technologies are recommended to promote wider adoption among non-adopters.