Characterization of beekeeping activity in the main municipalities of honey production in Campeche, Mexico

In Mexico, beekeeping is one of the main activities of the agricultural sector due to its production of high quality honey which is exported to several European countries. Beekeeping is practiced by more than 40,000 producers; with around two million hives in apiaries distributed in the five honey producing regions of Mexico (North, Central and Highlands, Pacific, Gulf and Yucatan Peninsula). The Yucatan Peninsula comprising of Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan, is considered as one the most important honey producing region since it contributes to about 95 % of Mexican honey production in the international markets. The region represents to 30 to 35 % of the total number of Mexican bee colonies, and beekeeping is considered as a secondary agricultural activity. With the purpose of characterizing the beekeeping activity in Campeche (in municipalities of Campeche, Champoton and Hopelchen), Yucatan Peninsula a comprehensive survey was conducted on 120 producers from July to December, 2016. The average age of beekeepers was found to be 57 years, with an average of 2.27 apiaries per producer and with 20.6 hives per apiary. The survey revealed that beekeepers devote two days a week to beekeeping and make on an average 3.67 harvests per year. Based on the survey results, it is recommended to promote generational change in the local beekeeping activity, with stronger emphasis on the young beekeepers of the region