Assessment on Production, Processing and Marketing Status of Beeswax in Kafa Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia

The study was conducted in the three districts of Kafa Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region being; Chena, Gimbo and Gesha and three peasant associations (PAs) from each district. The main intention was to identify the production, processing and marketing status of beeswax. The districts were purposively selected based on their potential for honey and beeswax production and marketing. The survey data was collected from 239 selected beekeepers and key informants. According to the survey’s result, 94.98% of beekeepers do not practice any processing of honey and sale it in crude form. Only 24 (13%) of the respondents practicing collection of beeswax from old combs, ‘tej’ houses and discarded or broken combs while the majorities (87%) of them discarding it as a byproduct. Of those who were collecting beeswax, only 7 (29%) were processing it for selling to central markets and other local purposes such as foundation sheet making, smearing top bars and traditional candle/‘tuaf’ making. This implies the trends of collecting, processing and marketing of beeswax is at its very infant stages at beekeepers level. Whereas, local mead houses and cooperatives are considered the major actors engaged in processing and marketing of beeswax. According to personal observation during survey, local mead houses are the major sources where beeswax is readily available year round. However, the overall management practice of beeswax at this market segment is very poor.