Sustainable development outlooks to subsistent apiculture in a transition: the case of Ethiopia

Abstract Since the inception of the term sustainable development at the end of the 20th century as a reconciliation between the needs for socio-economic development and environmental protection, various concepts and production systems have been initiated to address demands for food and other products. These include organic agriculture and sustainable intensification, which vary with the sector and local context. Here, we provide outlooks to sustainable development aspects of apiculture focusing on a subsistent beekeeping country that tries to transform – Ethiopia. For this, a review of sustainable agriculture and apiculture including national reports from 2005 to 2020 was conducted. The major points are: (1) Annual honey production improved from 25,000 tons in 2005 to 150,000 tons in 2020 by increasing the number of honey bee colonies from 4.2 to 7 million (65%) and through the provision of higher yielding frame hives (17.9 kg per hive per year) and top-bar hives (13) compared to fixed-comb traditional hives (9.31). (2) Average honey yield of top-bar hives was 40% higher than that of traditional hives. (3) Export volume grew from 274 tons in 2009 to 481 tons in 2016. (4) Development initiatives focused on the introduction of frame hives (3%) compared to top-bar hives (1%). However, the traditional beehives that involve unfriendly management remained dominant (96%). Popularization of the locally developed top-bar hives can provide sustainable enhancement of honey production to supply to the domestic market without dependence on certification of a third country and foundation combs patterned by imported casting molds based on European bees.