Analyzing honey producton in Aguascalientes, Mexico, using the Cobb-Douglas Function

Abstract

In beekeeping, honey yield and profits are affected by multiple variables, the influence of which can vary by region. A Cobb-Douglas function was applied to data from a direct survey of beekeepers in the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, to estimate and analyze the economic optimum and input elasticity in honey production. The optimal economic combination for production of one kilogram of honey was 1.045 kg supplementary feed and 0.084 days labor, which generate a maximum profit of $45.38 pesos/kg honey. The production function also identified increasing economies of scale, while substitution elasticity between the inputs supplementary feed and labor was elastic. Application of a Cobb-Douglas type function effectively estimated beekeeping profitability and productivity in the study area.