Abstract

Belets Gebremichael and Berhanu Gebremedhin

This study was initiated to analyze factors affecting decision and intensity to adopt improved box hive technology in Ahferom district of northern Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data sources were utilized. Descriptive analysis and econometric (Double-hurdle) model were employed using SPSS-16 and STATA-11, respectively. Of the 130 sample beekeepers, 54.6% and 45.4% were adopters and non-adopters, respectively. Of the adopters’ category 67.6% hold both traditional and improved hives, the rest 32.4% hold only improved box hive. The mean number of improved box hives was 3.10 hives for adopters and 1.69 hives for entire sample with maximum of 11. The first hurdle result indicated that other off/non-farm activity, beekeeping experience, distance to market and frequency of extension contact were significantly affect adoption decision of improved box hive. Moreover, the second hurdle result revealed that other off/nonfarm activity, frequency of extension contact, credit access, livestock holding, age, distance to all weather roads were found to be significantly affect intensity of adoption. Therefore, these significant factors in adoption of improved box hive technology should be considered by policy-makers and planners of governmental and NGOs in setting their policies and strategies of honey production improvement interventions.