COSTS AND RETURNS OF SMALL SCALE HONEY BEE PRODUCTION
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COSTS AND RETURNS OF SMALL SCALE HONEY BEE PRODUCTION
Abstract
The study examined the costs and rewards of small-scale honey bee production in Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random selection procedure was utilised to pick 40 respondents for the study. The study’s primary data were gathered using a standardised questionnaire delivered to a sample of respondents.
Field data were examined using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results show that the majority of respondents (83.33%) were between the ages of 21 and 50. Furthermore, the majority (54.17%) of them were males who were married (51.67%), and 55.83 percent of them lived in households of 5 to 9 people.
Furthermore, the majority (82.5%) of honey bee producers have received some type of formal education. According to further investigation, 74.17% of them are Christians, with traders accounting for the majority (37.5%). Arable crop production (52.5%) dominated the honey producers’ agricultural activities, with 65.0% of them having hives with capacities greater than 30 litres.
The majority (42.5%) of beekeepers made less than N50,000.00 per year, while more than half (61.67%) earned N200,000.00 or more. The study also found that the majority (48.33%) of respondents employed the sit on the ground approach for honey production.
Based on the type of feed utilised for honey production, sugar syrup and nectar received 57.5% and 37.5% responses, respectively, from producers, while the majority (48.335) favoured gathering honey during the day. The producers’ colony-building methods included collecting swarms (32.5%), purchasing colonies (40.85), and purchasing nucleus colonies (34.17%).
Clay pot and landstroth hives were the most commonly used for honey production (40.83% and 40.0%, respectively). The majority (49.17%) of respondents acquired their materials from the free market.
The most common marketing techniques used by honey producers were: raising awareness (36.67%), sales promotion (23.33%), sales through middlemen (40.0%), and merchants (26.67%).
Small-scale honey production was shown to be successful, with a profit of N102,950.00, a gross margin of N139,300.00, and a benefit cost ratio (BCR) of N1.96k. Small-scale honey producers recognised institutional, economic, and social constraints as barriers to effective honey production.
It was suggested that regular training and retraining programmes be organised for honey producers, adequate extension services be provided to update their knowledge and skills, and cooperative societies be formed among producers to take advantage of current economic policies for honey exportation to international markets.
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