The impact of policy support on the scale of beekeeping

Author of the article:ZENG Mi1** LI Dao-He1 YAN Wei-Yu2, 3 ZENG Zhi-Jiang2, 3***

Author's Workplace：1. College of Economics and Management, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; 2. Honeybee Research Institute, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; 3. Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Honeybee Biology and Beekeeping, Nanchang 330045, China

Key Words：policy support; beekeepers; apiary; colony size

Abstract： [Aim]  To investigate how aspects of policy support influence apiary size in China. [Methods]  Field survey data collected through the National Apiculture Industry Technology System and the Jiangxi Apiculture Industry Technology System from 939 apiaries in 24 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities was analyzed with the number of colonies per beekeeper as the response variable. The effects of four components of policy support: Financial subsidies, technical training, sales service, and product testing, were evaluated as potential explanatory factors. An empirical model was used to examine the impact and mechanism of policy support and its four components on colony size. [Results]  Both overall policy support, and each of the four potential explanatory factors, had a significant positive effect on apiary size. Mechanistic analysis revealed that policy support operates mainly through two pathways; increasing beekeeping income percolony and raising the unit price of honey. Specifically, subsidy and sales services directly raise the percolony income, whereas technical training and product testing indirectly promote apiary expansion by increasing the honey price. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the effects of policy support and its four indicators differ among beekeepers with different capital endowments, with human capital, economic capital, and social capital, all playing key roles. [Conclusion]  Policy support has a significant, positive impact on apiary size. This finding provides a basis for the government to formulate policies and measures for the development of the apiculture industry.