Dinámica de adopción de buenas prácticas de producción de miel en la península de Yucatán, México

Abstract

The objectives were to analyse the changes in the adoption of good honey production practices (BPPM, in Spanish) in apicultural producers of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, before and after the producers had received technical advice and training; as well as identifying factors that influence the adoption of such practices. A total of 31 BPPM were considered and grouped into seven categories, the BPPM adoption index (InABPPM, in Spanish) was figured up. Information from 8,074 beekeepers in two stages (baseline and final line), for the states of Yucatan (n= 3,840), Campeche (n= 3,525), and Quintana Roo (n= 709), was analysed. Beekeepers were classified by the number of hives they owned, in three groups: small (1-22, 24 %), medium (23-35, 27 %), and large (36-400, 49 %). The average InABPPM had a significant increase (P>0.01) of 16.8 % in a period 8 mo. Additionally, significant differences (P>0.01) were found in the categories of location and installation of apiary, apicultural health, harvesting, field staff, and cleaning and hygiene program. No significant differences were found for the categories of artificial feeding and materials for the hive protection and smoking (P>0.05). This study highlights the relevance of programs for managing and disseminating of BPPM to promote the beekeeping activity and access to the international market complying with the required quality standards. The results suggest promoting the adoption of process BPPM and later guide the investment of public support in those apiaries with better performance in terms of increasing in adoption levels.