Determinants and Resource Use Efficiency of Honey Production (Apis mellifera) at Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

A general survey was accomplished among beekeepers in 2019 to investigate the determinants and resource use efficiency of honey production at Chitwan, Nepal. The information was primarily collected through 60 Apis mellifera beekeepers registered in bee zone, Chitwan. They were selected for interview by simple random sampling technique. Interview using semi-structured questionnaire schedule was carried out for primary data. Cobb Douglas production function, multiple regression, and paired t-test were used for the analysis of collected data. Multiple regression model revealed that family labor (p=0.68), age(p=0.007), family size (p=0.001), experience (p=0.007), harvesting (p=0.000) and maintenance of flowering plants (p=0.057) have significant effect on honeybee productivity. Labour cost and migration cost had positive coefficient and significant relation at 1% level of significance with gross return whereas expenses on baiting materials had positive coefficient and significant relation at 5% level of significance with the gross return. Thirty-six percentage of total visit for foraging of honeybees was contributed by East Chitwan. The overall productivity of honey in 2019 AD (24.06 kg/hive) was found to be 29% lower than that of 2018 AD. Labour cost and migration cost were underutilized and are required for increment by 3.51% and 71.16% respectively regarding revenue maximization and cost on sugar, drug and comb foundation was over-utilized and needed to be reduced by 30.65%. The efficient use of inputs could make it a profitable and viable commercial enterprise.