Assessing the Impact of Training of Beekeepers on The Productivity of the Apiculture Industry in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to assess the impact of training of beekeepers on the productivity of the apiculture industry in the Volta and Oti Regions of Ghana. Specifically, the study analyzed the factors that influence participation in beekeeping training programmemes, evaluated the impact of training programmemes on the productivity of beekeepers and examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of beekeeping. The study used descriptive statistics to measure factors that influence participation in beekeeping training while propensity score matching was used to determine the productivity of beekeepers in the study area. The study further employed the SWOT analytical tool to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of beekeeping. A structured questionnaire, interviews, field visits and focus group discussions were employed to gather data for the study. A multistage sampling technique was used to select two hundred and ten (210) respondents comprising ninety-eight (98) trained and one hundred and twelve (112) formally untrained beekeepers. The study was conducted in six districts/municipalities in the Volta region and two districts from Oti region. STATA Version 15 was used to analyse objectives one and two while a radar chart in excel was used to analyse objective three. It was observed that gender, educational level and number of members of household in beekeeping influenced participation in beekeeping trainings. Whereas males and those with high education were found to be less likely to participate in trainings, household members in beekeeping was found to increase participation in training. The result from the Nearness Neighbor Matching based on the ATT suggests that on average, participation in a beekeeping training programmeme increased productivity measured in gallons/beehives by 1471.96. However, by applying the same matching method (nearest matching method) on the ATE (i.e on the entire population comprising both trained and untrained groups), the productivity was found to increase by only 0.421. This means that training programmemes in beekeeping drives an increase in productivity of beekeeping than other demographic characteristics such as age, gender, marital status, educational level and years of experience. The training programmemes afforded the beekeepers opportunity to enhance their knowledge, skills and attitudes towards the business. The study found that natural, human and economic resources that support beekeeping abound in the study area. Beekeeping is promoting the sustenance of biodiversity in the study area. Among the weaknesses of beekeeping is the absence of definite policy in place to guide and give direction to the beekeeping sector in the country in general and the study area in particular. Also, there are no well organized and strong beekeeping associations both at regional, district and local levels to help drive the beekeeping business. There is also a lack of institutional support for the beekeeping sector and this is a weakness to beekeeping. Among opportunities available for the development of beekeeping is the presence of some training institutions such as the Ohawu Agricultural College and the Adidome Farm Institute in the study area to offer training in beekeeping to interested people. Beekeepers have come out with improved borrasus hives fitted with topbars in place of the borrasus log hives. Threats identified included the continuous use of traditional honey extractors despite the benefits associated with improved beekeeping technology and the menace of bushfires that destroy beehives, bee habitat and fora. The study concludes generally that for the beekeeping sector to strategically function as a profitable venture, training programmemes in new methods of beekeeping should be made a topmost priority. More training programmemes for beekeepers is recommended for the enhancement of their skills, attitudes and competence.