Challenges for Improved Production and Value Share Along the Honey Value Chain in Ethiopia

Mulubrihan Bayissa (), Ludwig Lauwers, Fikadu Mitiku, Dirk C. de Graaf and Wim Verbeke
Additional contact information
Mulubrihan Bayissa: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Ludwig Lauwers: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Fikadu Mitiku: Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma P.O. Box 307, Oromia, Ethiopia
Dirk C. de Graaf: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Wim Verbeke: Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-20

Abstract: Although Ethiopia has an enormous agroecological potential for beekeeping, only 10% of it is realized. As its conventional smallholder production calls for improvement in market relationships, this paper aims at an in-depth analysis of the honey value chain, value share distribution, and leverages for improvement. Questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, value chain mapping, and margin analysis were used for analysis. The main honey value chain actors were input suppliers, producers (beekeepers), collectors, wholesalers, processors, cooperatives, unions, retailers, and consumers. Agricultural offices, research centers, trade and market development offices, financial institutions, and NGOs are major supporters. The value share of beekeepers using traditional hives is still low, while the largest share goes to improved hive users and wholesalers, respectively. Weak market linkages, high costs and shortage of modern equipment, limited access to credit, lack of legal frameworks and standardized laboratories, absconding, pest infestation, and unsafe use of agrochemicals were the major challenges. Nevertheless, attractive investment policy, global market demand, low capital requirements, and support from NGOs were key opportunities. Improving access to better market, finance and modern inputs, capacity building, legal reform, and a standardized laboratory would help to support the honey value chain and its contribution.

Keywords: beekeeping; Ethiopia; honey value chain; smallholders; value share (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/17/1871/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/17/1871/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:17:p:1871-:d:1740225

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().