What Works to Strengthen Beekeeper Productivity and Climate Resilience? Evidence from México
Date
2024-02
Authors
Luca, Victoria
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Aparicio, Gabriela
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de San Andrés. Departamento de Economía
Abstract
This paper studies the effectiveness of a technical assistance program aimed at improving the
productivity and the climate resilience of beekeepers in rural Mexico. The program was
provided free-of-charge to beekeepers who lost hives during tropical storm Cristobal in
2020. Program participants in 14 localities of Yucatan were offered four main program
components: (i) basic inputs, (ii) a year-long training on beehive management, (iii) queen
bees, and (iv) a specific training on queen breeding. Due to the difficulties of implementing
the program during the COVID-19 Pandemic, participants in 3 other nearby localities were
offered only basic inputs and serve as a control group. We use a difference-in-differences
approach combined with entropy balance to control for pre-existing differences across
groups. We take advantage of a detailed baseline and follow-up survey of 356 beekeepers
who participated in the program. Treated beekeepers increased their number of hives, honey
production, yields, and adoption of best practices substantially more than the control group,
who only received basic inputs. While the provision of the queen bee asset had the largest
impact on honey production and yield, the trainings were particularly important for the
adoption of best practices, which bodes well for longer-term climate resilience.
Description
Fil: Luca, Victoria. Universidad de San Andrés. Departamento de Economía; Argentina.