Economic and efficiency analysis of beekeeping activity in Turkey: Case of Canakkale Province

This study was carried out to determine the economic structure and efficiencies of the beekeeping enterprises in Canakkale Province. Beekeepers were divided into three groups/strata according to number of hives: 1-75 hives (first group), 76-150 hives (second group) and 151 hives and above (third group). Survey sample size was determined as 87 based on stratified random sampling method. The portion of fixed costs were 65.25% and variable costs were 34.75% in averages of production costs of all enterprises. The cost of honey production per kg changed between 2.04 US$ to 3.54 US$ among to enterprises. The average production cost of honey per kg was 2.92 US$. Average yield amount per hive was 16.24 kg and production cost per hive was 53.32 US$. Besides, average gross profit, net profit and relative profit were determined as 77.53 US$, 42.74 US$ and 1.80, respectively. According to the average of the enterprises, total technical efficiency (constant return to scale), pure technical efficiency (variable return to scale), scale efficiency, allocative efficiency and economic efficiency were found as 0.64, 0.89, 0.70, 0.74 and 0.66, respectively. It was determined that producer's age and agricultural activity apart from beekeeping affected the economic efficiency negatively and land size, income per hive and honeycomb changing frequency affected the economic efficiency positively. According to the results, it was concluded that honey production was a profitable activity in Canakkale Province and relative profits and efficiencies of the enterprises in the third group were higher than the other groups.