Economic evaluation criteria for honey production in the apiaries of Al-Bayda municipality for the 2025 season

Abstract

The results indicate that Category III is the most economically efficient of the three categories, yielding a high net return estimated at approximately 233,766 dinars against total costs of about 245,740 dinars The units constitute the primary component of fixed costs, accounting for approximately 35%, 82%, 58%, and 69% for Category I, Category II, Category III, and the total sample, respectively. Sugar represents the most significant component of variable costs, estimated at approximately 85%, 63%, 38%, and 61% for the first, second, and third categories, and the total, respectively. The results also indicate a reduction in the capital payback period for Category III to 0.80 years, reflecting the rapid recovery of invested capital compared to the other categories. The high benefit-cost ratio of 1.95 for Category III signifies that every dinar spent on the activity generates economic benefits that clearly exceed the cost. The rise in the relative profitability of Category III to 416.15% confirms its ability to generate high returns relative to costs. Data on the production cost per kilogram of honey indicate that Category I faces higher unit production costs compared to Categories II and III-estimated at approximately 37.16 dinars-a situation that may be linked to low production volume or inefficient utilization of fixed resources. It is also evident that beekeeping within the studied sample is a profitable and viable economic activity, albeit with some variations in efficiency and profitability across production categories.