Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 13 ISSUE 1
Written by Agatha POPESCU
The paper aimed to analyze apiary size, honey production and beekeepers’ income in Teleorman County using a questionnaire based survey on a sample of 16 apiculturists. The processing of answers pointed out that in 2011, the interviewed beekeepers kept 1,248 bee families which produced 32,206 kg honey, meaning 25.80 kg/bee family. Honey was sold at Lei 9.67 lei/kg in average, total income accounted for Lei 338,083, that is Lei 21,130 in average per beekeeper and Lei 270.89 per bee family. Apiary size varied between 150 bee families (1 apiary = 6,25 %), 50-100 bee families (81.25 %) and the remaining 12.50 % less than 40 bee families. About 86.23 % of honey production was achieved in the apiaries whose size belonged to the category 50-100 bee families and 8.19 % in the apiary with more than 100 bee families. About 73.20 % of total profit was carried out in the apiaries keeping 50-100 bee families and 18.74 % in the apiary with over 100 bee families.As a conclusion, beekeeping is a profitable sector of agriculture in Teleorman County and for this reason beekeepers are stimulated to increase the number of be families per apiary, honey quality and finally their income and living standard.
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