Post-harvest technology researcher, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Post-harvest technology technical assistant, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Teffera, A., Post-harvest technology researcher, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; Selassie Sahile, G., Post-harvest technology technical assistant, Bahir Dar Agricultural Mechanization and Food Science Research Center, P.O. Box: 133, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
The study was conducted from July 2006 to December 2007 at East Gojjam and West Gojjam zone of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to evaluate and identify appropriate bee spaces for different agro ecology on farm condition. For this study three trail sites that represent the highland and lowland agro ecology areas were selected. From each sits three beekeeping farmers were selected as host farmers to carry out the study. The treatments were three Langstroth bee hives contain different bee-space (7mm, 10mm and 14mm) replicated three times at each trail site and complete randomized design (CRD) was used. The collected data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Farmer's comments also included for evaluation purpose. Based on the analysis of variance and participant farmer's comments, hives with bee spaces 7mm, and 10mm were found to be useful around lowland and highland areas. It will be most convenient to use the bee hive having 7mm bee space around lowland area and bee hive having 10mm around highland areas of the region. It is also necessary to use all management aspects so as to increase honey and honey products, since, only by maintaining bee space cannot bring good return.