Economics of Honey Production in Oyo State, Nigeria

Ezekiel, A.A*, Olagunju, F.I and Olapade-Ogunwole, F.

Department of Agricultural Economics, Ladoke Akintola   University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

*Correspondent Author E-mail: ayinlani@yahoo.com,

Accepted 11 February, 2013

Abstract

This research was specifically designed to determine the economic effect of honey production in Ogbomoso Agricultural zone. Well structure questionnaires were employed to collect useful and relevant data from the respondents. A total of 120 respondents were randomly selected. The data collected were analyzed using regression analysis, frequency count and percentages. The result shows that the majority of the honey producers were male with 92.1% and age group between 31-40years with 36.8%, 1-10years experience with (52.5%). They operated with 1-80 numbers of hives with 83.2% and about 90% had one form of education or the other. The management system revealed that equipment and material used as inputs include, bee dress, smokers, honey extractor, uncapping knife, wax extractor, hand gloves etc. some of the problems faced by honey producers in the study area include lack of capital, bush burning, insufficient equipment, unavailability of land, bees aggressiveness and lack of technical known how.  It was recommended that extension agents should take conscious effort to encourage apiarists; government should subsidize the input for the farmer and proper orientation on the benefits of honey production.

Keywords: Economic, Honey, Production, Agriculture.