Characterization of the Beekeeping Value Chain: Challenges, Perceptions, Limitations, and Opportunities for Beekeepers in Kayonza District, Rwanda

Table 10

Proportional occurrence of various aspects experienced and practised by respondents.

Aspect investigated	Number of respondents (%)
Method of Baiting
Beeswax	40 (40)
Propolis	34 (34)
Viper skin	26 (26)
Type of pest/predator
Beetles (Aethina tumida)	25 (25)
Small black ants (Monomorium minimum)	19 (19)
Red ants (Formica spp.)	18 (18)
Wax moths (Galleria spp.)	12 (12)
Lizards (Trachylepis striata)	8 (8)
Termites	7 (7)
Birds (Merops apiaster)	6 (6)
Mites (Varroa destructor)	3 (3)
Mice (Mus spp.)	2 (2)
Respondents’ method of harvesting honey
Open fire to produce smoke	80 (80)
Modern smokers or torch	20 (20)
Type of challenge faced by respondents
Lack of information on pests and predators of honeybees	34 (34)
Inadequate time for management of colonies	17 (17)
Flying predators (e.g., birds)	15 (15
Nocturnal predators and pests	13 (13)
Inadequate technical knowledge and implements	11 (11
Inadequate labour	10 (10)
Perceived effect of pests and diseases on colonies
Bees abandoned hives and migrated	67 (67)
Brood and adult bees died leaving weaker colonies	22 (22)
Bees became more aggressive	7 (7)
Bees swarmed frequently	4 (4)

Values with the same suffices within each category are significantly different since p<0.05.