Abstract

This study was conducted in Abia State. The study evaluated the economic performance of beekeeping enterprise and factors that influence the profitability of the beekeeping. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select 120 beekeepers. Data were collected through primary source. The collected data were analysed with descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis, profitability ratios and multiple regression analysis. The findings of the study showed that the male folk dominated the beekeeping enterprise. The respondents had mean age of 45 years with majority of them being literate. Most (58%) of the apiculturists were married with mean household size of 6.5 and they had many years of beekeeping experiences. The results indicated that beekeeping had good economic performance as the enterprise was profitable and economically viable in the study area. The benefit cost ratio, return on investment, profitability index, and operating ratio were 3.41, 2.41, 0.71 and 0.21 respectively. The result further indicated that education, experience, number of hive, baiting materials and type of technology positively and significantly influenced the beekeeping profitability while cost of transportation was significant and negatively signed. The study concludes that beekeeping enterprise was profitable and has great potential in the study area. Therefore, Government policy direction should aim at encouraging bee keepers to expand their beekeeping enterprise so as to generate more income, this is turn will reduce the family’s poverty and enhance their standard of living.