Abstract

This paper investigates technical efficiencies of beekeeping farms and their determinants, using stochastic production frontier function, in Tolon-Kumbungu district of Northern region of Ghana. Primary data were collected using a multi-stage sampling technique on 48 respondents. Results show that the mean technical efficiency of the beekeeping farms is 0.894. Most of the respondents are also fairly efficient in the use of available resources. The most important factors, which determine technical inefficiency, are age, main occupation and membership of social group of the honey producers. Although, the beekeepers were found to be generally fairly efficient, there is room for improvement in the use of available resources under a guaranteed and conducive environment.

Key words: Technical efficiency, bee keepers, returns to scale.