SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BEEKEEPING AND DETERMINANTS OF BOX HIVE TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Journal Article

Abdulaziz, N. Adgaba, A. Al-Ghamdi, A. G. Shenkute, S. Ismaiel, S. Al-Kahtani, Y. Tadess, M. J. Ansari, W. Abebe, M. Q. A. . 2014

• المجلة \ الصحيفة: The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences
• رقم العدد: 6
• رقم الإصدار السنوي: 24
• الصفحات: 1876-1884

مستخلص المنشور

Beekeeping is traditionally a longstanding and
environmentally friendly agricultural activity in Saudi
Arabia. This activity contributes to the country’s
economic and social development by providing
sustainable additional income and self-employment
opportunities for approximately 5,000 household
beekeepers in the Kingdom (Al-Ghamdi, 2010). There
are an estimated one million honeybee colonies in Saudi
Arabia. The major types of honeybee races used in the
country are the indigenous honeybees
Apismelliferajemenitica and the imported hybrid bees,
Apismelliferacarnica. Approximately 9,000 tons of honey
is produced annually in the country (Al-Ghamdi, 2007).
However, this production is far from self-sufficient (Al-
Ghamdi, 2010). Honey is a highly valued product in
Saudi Arabian culture and religion, and the country is one
of the largest honey-consuming countries in the world.
As a result, the demand for honey is high, and the country
imports approximately 15,000 tons of honey annually to
fill the gap in demand (CDSI, 2010). Saudi Arabia is the
fourth largest honey buyer country next to EU, USA and
Japan (USDA, 2013).