ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the Beekeeping Investment using Kenyan Top Bar and Langstroth hives in Abia State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of this study were to: describe the socioeconomic profile of the bee farmers in the study area, ascertain the extent of involvement in beekeeping activities, determine the profitability of beekeeping in the study area, compare the income and yield of Kenya Top bar and Langstroth hives in Abia state, determine the factors influencing honey bee production in the study area and identify the factors or constraints affecting beekeeping in the study area. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 120 respondents, who were selected by purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Net returns, Z - test distribution statistics, Ordinary Least Square (multiple) regression and Aiche sustainability index. Results indicate that the mean age of bee farmers in the study area was 44.2 years, 50.0% of respondents had household size of between 6-10 persons and 37.5% of the farmers were within the age range of 41 and 50 years. The result of extent of involvement in Beekeeping activities showed a grand mean of 3.20 indicating a high extent, the respondents were involved in beekeeping activities. Furthermore, the respondents were highly involved in harvesting (= 3.9), marketing (= 3.4), baiting and processing (=3.3).  the result indicates that beekeeping is very profitable with a total variable cost of N61978.6, total cost of N113,207.8, Net returns of N 1,217,716.8. The comparative analyses of the difference in the yield and income of Kenya Top Bar and Langstroth bee hives showed that the mean yield and income of Langstroth hive were 287.1kg and   N79,537.5 respectively while that of a Kenya Top Bar was 194.12kg and N 50441.7 while the mean difference in yield and income was 92.98kg and N29095.8 respectively, this result implies that the honey bee farmer earned more income from the Langstroth bee hive than the Kenya Top Bar. Econometric analysis indicates that number of training, number of hives, farmer`s experience, income, household size and education were positively related at different levels of significance. Results also revealed that the severe constraints encountered by the honey bee farmers were pest (= 4.9), hive destruction during Langstroth users had considerable desire to maintain best practices with the Kenyan Top Bars recording a component value of 0.923. It is recommended that appropriate policies should be targeted at encouraging more investment in beekeeping and providing accessible credit to beekeepers to foster the use of modern bee hives for improved productivity and profitability.