Empirical Analysis of Honey Productivity among Local Beekeepers in Sanga, Kaduna State Nigeria

Beekeeping is a sustainable form of agriculture that supplements rural income and nutrition requirements; however, gross underutilization and inadequate exploitation of bee keeping potentials persists. Productivity analysis is an important consideration in measuring firm efficiency or performance. This study therefore estimates profitability and honey productivity among local beekeepers in Sanga, Kaduna state, Nigeria. Primary data collected via random sampling were evaluated using descriptive statistics, farm budget model and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) index. The study revealed that net farm income of honey production was ₦19,900/hive; percentage profit margin and benefit-cost ratio were 48.5% and 0.94 respectively. Furthermore, 66% of the beekeepers were sub- optimally productive as their TFP indices were below the optimal scale; attributable to sub-efficient input mix and cost of production inputs. The major constraints of honey production in the study area were cost of modern technology (92%), inadequate capital (74%), inadequate extension support (66%), poor access to credit (50%), climate factors (42%), shortage of forage plants (38%) and lack of incentives /training (26%). Forage improvement, input supply and subsidy, improved funding, incentives, interventions, extension support and access to agricultural credit for local beekeepers are strongly recommended. Keywords: Apiculture, beekeepers, constraints, honey, profitability, total factor productivity