Abstract:
The study was conducted in Ankober district of North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia,
with the objective to assess the honey bee production systems and major honey bee pestes and
predators in Ankober district from 2011-13 E.C. Six kebele, namely, Alyuamba, Mescha ,
Ememhert ,Mahalwonz , Debdebo and Laygorebela were selected based on variations in
agro-ecology (high land, mid land and low land). The data collected was analyzed using
descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The
majority of the respondents about 93.89% can were males and the remaining 6.11 were
females. From the total respondents sampled about 46.67%, were able to write and read
.There are three types of beekeeping system; traditional, traditional and modern, but 87.38 %
traditional hive and the most dominant beekeeping system in the study area. The amount of
honey harvested from traditional, top bar and frame hive in the study area were 7.83±2.27,
9.52±2.83 and 12±3.3 kg per year /hive respectively. Regarding the experience of beekeepers
30.95%, 40.48% and 28.57% in the high land, mid land and low land respectively more than
10 years of beekeeping experience in the study area. The bee floras found in the study area
were, Sesbania sesban, Chamaecytisus prolifererus, Eucalptus spp, Croton macrostachy ,
Ficus vasta, Mangifera indica, Carica papaya, Musa x paradisiacal, Sesamum indicumli,
Guitozia abyssinica, Sorghum bicolor, Helianthus annuus, Allium cepa, Zea Mays,
Dododinea angustifolia and Acacia spp ).The most dominant pests and predators
challenging the beekeeping practice in the study area ranked as ants, honey badger ,wax
moth and bee-eater birds are top four pests and predators in the study area .
