Beekeeping practices in Central-Northem Côte d’Ivoire: The case of Tafiré

Understanding the conditions under which honey is produced in rural areas is essential for the development of beekeeping and for improving beekeepers’ incomes. The objective of this study was to describe beekeeping practices in the town of Tafiré (Côte d’Ivoire). To this end, we conducted an ethno-apicultural survey of 59 honey producers in Tafiré for a descriptive analysis. The ages of the producers interviewed ranged from 21 to 86 years, with a mean of 43.69 ± 13.57 years, and their years of experience ranged from 2 to 50 years, with a mean of 12.62 ± 10.99 years. The survey identified three types of beekeeping practices: Honey hunting, traditional, and modern. Virtually all of the honey produced comes from traditional hives. A traditional beekeeper produces an average of 234 liters of honey per year with approximately 50 ± 51.26 hives, for a gross annual income of 481,956 CFA francs. In contrast, a modern beekeeper, with an average of 12 hives, produces approximately 240 liters of honey per year, generating an annual gross income of 660,000 CFA francs. A gradual transition from traditional hives to modern hives could increase honey production and beekeepers’ incomes.