The Status of Honey Quality Produced in Gedebano Gutazer Wolene, Central Ethhiopia

: The study was conducted aiming at evaluating the status of the physicochemical properties of honey produced in Gedebano Gutazer Wolene District of SNNP, Central Ethiopia in 2016/2017. To evaluate the physicochemical properties of honey, 20 samples of honey having 1 kg each was collected purposely from traditional & frame hive at farm-gate level of three different agro-ecological locations & two rural markets. The results were compared with National, European and International honey quality standard requirement. Additionally the results were compared between different locations, market and farm-gate level as well as between traditional and frame hive honey samples. The physicochemical parameters of honey quality conducted in the analysis were color, moisture content, HMF (hydroxyl methyl furfural), free acidity, pH, ash, electro-conductivity, sugar content, sucrose & maltose. According to the analysis, except HMF which shows significant ( p < 0.05) differences between hive types was observed, all other quality parameters in relation to hive type, locations & level of collections did not show significant ( p > 0.05) differences between them. Generally the results of quality parameters indicated to be within the range of National, European and International quality standard requirement. The mean values of the collected honey samples were: moisture content (18.91%), electro-conductivity (0.65 mS/m), free acid (16.3 meq/kg), HMF (2.63 mg/kg), ash content (0.2 g/100g), sugar content (74.4%), sucrose (1.06%), maltose (0.95%) and the range of honey color was 3.3-3.96 mm p-fund scale. The results obtained therefore indicate that honey produced in the district shows excellent quality and is free of any adulterants in relation to National, European and International limits so that it can be exported.