• Indigenous knowledge

Indigenous knowledge

Honey is one of the priority commodities of the Alaba special woreda (district) of Southern Ethiopia. While indigenous knowledge provides the cultural basis for bee-keeping in the woreda, efforts are also now being made to boost honey production by introducing modern bee-keeping practice. This paper argues that recognising and documenting indigenous bee-keeping practice in the woreda is a pre-requisite to sustain honey production and strengthen existing development efforts aimed at improving the living standard of low income farmers.

The paper begins by documenting the history of bee-keeping the social, medicinal and economic value of honey in Alaba special woreda. It examines features of indigenous bee-keeping practice and its link with modern bee-keeping in the study area.

Findings include the following:

• knowledge of apiculture in Alaba originated from adjacent woreda and was adopted first in Besheno and surrounding area
• the indigenous value of honey is reflected in the generations’ lore, its medical, economic and social value
• honey is used in various social events including conflict resolution, blessing, weeding and religious ceremony
• the indigenous feature of beekeeping in Alaba and its value reflects the importance of apiculture and its cultural base for economic development.
  

The authors argue that early introduction of modern apiculture in the study area has not taken in to account the role and significance of indigenous knowledge in development process. They conclude with a number of recommendations to integrate modern and indigenous apiculture development.

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