Optimising beekeeping development programs for improved productivity, income and welfare: a case study of Papua New Guinea

Beekeeping can provide important sources of cash income for farmers in developing countries where land is unconducive to crop and livestock production systems. In many low-income countries however, attrition among beekeeping adopters remains a chronic problem, colony losses are high, support for and coordination of the sector is low, and practices, production and income from beekeeping is often inefficient. This study investigated the key drivers and practices influencing incomes from beekeeping, honey production and numbers of hives owned by beekeepers in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.