An Assessment of the socio-economic factors affecting apiculture in Mashonaland Central

Author

Mafumhwa, Thelma V.

Title

An Assessment of the socio-economic factors affecting apiculture in Mashonaland Central

Abstract

The goal of the study was to look into the socioeconomic elements that influence beekeeping in the Mupfure community of Zimbabwe's Shamva District. Structured questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Ten villages were chosen at random from a total of eleven to represent locations where beekeeping is common. A total of 95 people were chosen at random and proportionately from the ten villages for the study. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression. The majority of the beekeepers (51.4 percent) were females, with the majority having between 2 and 45 colonies and 2 to 45 years of beekeeping experience in the research area. Bark hives and Kenyan Top Bars had a mean of 26.20 and 26.80, which was greater than the average number of other hives. Insufficient financing, theft, extreme weather, pests, and diseases were all mentioned as major obstacles to beekeeping in the study area. According to the regression model, the number of colonies held has a positive coefficient and is significant at 0.01 percent. To improve productivity, farmers should increase the number of colonies or hives they have.

Date

June 2022

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Shamva district

Socio-economic

Mashonaland Central

Supervisor

Mr Gotosa