Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice

The study analyzed the activities of traditional bee hunters and beekeepers in Ganye and Toungo Local Government Areas, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The objectives of the survey were to: compare the socio-economic characteristics of the bee hunters and beekeepers in study area; compare bee sting prevention techniques; yield and income; and problems encountered in honey collection by the respondents. Snowball sampling technique was used to select Fifty-one respondents (consisting of 34 bee hunters and 17 beekeepers) who were served with questionnaire. The findings of the study showed that 70.6% of beekeepers are below 50 years of age, while only 29.4% of the bee hunters’ are below 50 years of age with more than 82% of the two categories were male. About 65% of beekeepers attained formal education (primary = 11.8%, secondary = 23.5%, diploma and degree = 29.4%) while only 8.8% of bee hunters attained primary and 11.8%secondary education. About 94% of bee beekeepers used bees dress/suit while only 2.9% of bee hunters used bees dress/suit to prevent bee sting. Beekeepers made more income than the bee hunters. The least (11.8%) honey output per harvest of beekeepers is between ₦46, 000.00 and ₦55000.00 which is more than the highest money realized by the bee hunters (₦36, 000.00 and ₦45, 000.00). Ninety four percent and 88.2% of the bee hunters cited inadequate wild hives and bee sting as problems they encountered respectively. All (100%) of the bee hunters and 41.2% of the beekeepers complained of inadequate extension visit while 76.5% and 64.7% of the beekeepers cited inadequate fund and transportation as problems respectively. It was concluded that beekeepers have a better bee sting prevention techniques and yield than the bee hunters. The highest money realized by the bee hunters is not up to the least money made by the beekeepers. It is recommended that extension agencies should endeavor to teach farmers on bee keeping techniques so as to encourage bee hunters to move from being hunters to keepers. Both bee hunters and bee keepers should form associations so as to have collective bargaining for credits.