ABSTRACT

The study analyzed economically the production of honey in  Umudike . It Considerate the production process of honey, the economic returns and socio-economic factors affecting honey production in the study area. A Iota] of 23respondents were purpose interviewed (using both the structured and unstructured questionnaire) and all were involved in modern bee keeping Enterprise budget analysis was used to determine the economic returns of -the enterprise, which was found to be profitable, Multiple expression analysis and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) were adopted as the analytical exponential tools, The j functional form was adopted based on a priority expeetaticil of signs and magnitude of the coefficients. This vas used t analyze the income of socio-economic factors on honey production. From the analysis. it was found that Age, income and marital status significantly affected honey production. The variance ratio suggested that socio-economic ariabhes or factors considered were statistically significant at level. \vhi,ch mph es that socio-economic factors could exert positive or negal.i\ C fl pad on honey production From the above findings, appropriate policy recommendations were made towards the improvement of honey production. These includes the following ) Due to the medicinal and nutritive value of hone, individuals should be educated on, the benefits derived from its consumption so as to improve the rate of honey consumption which would inturn increase productivity.h) Since honey production is a viable enterprise, which is highly underdeveloped, there is great need to create awareness and to publicize the enterprise through either seminars or extension teaching methods. C) it is also necessary to assist bee farmers to produce other products of apiculture apart from honey by providing them with the equipment and skill-acquisition centers. d) Intending beekeepers could be encouraged by providing read' market for oilier products and incentives in the form of loans.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Title Page ...

Abstract ii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgment v

Certification Page vi

Table of Content ................................ vii

List of Table x

List of Figure x

CHAPTER O1'E

1 .0 Introduction ................................. .

Background Information

1 .2 Problem Statement .......................................... 3

1.3 Objectivesofthestudy 4

1.4 Hypothesis 4

1 .5 Justification of the study .............. S

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review 6

2.1 Bees . 6

2.2 Honey . . . 8

2.3 Development of Beekeeping in Nigeria 10

2.4 Types of beekeeping . I I

2.4.1 Traditional Beekeeping . . 12

2.4.2 Modern Beekeeping . . 14.

2.5 Types of Hives 15

2.6 The hive products and their economic importance . 18

2.7 Practices Associated with Honey production 21

2 8 Constraints to Honey Production 23

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Methodology . 25

3.1 Study Area ....... 25

3.2 Sampling Procedure 26

3.3 Data Collection Technique 26

3.4 Method of Data Analysis 26

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Result and Discussion 27

4. 1 Process of Honey Produ.ction in Urnudike 0 27

4.2 Enterprise Budget Analysis 34

4.3 Regression Analysis of socio-economic characteristics 36

4.4 Result on Hypothesis 40

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion .......... 0 41

5.1 Summary .............................41

5.2 Recommendation 41

5.3 Conclusion ..................................... ......42

References