Socioeconomic and Technological Typification of Beekeepers in North-Central Mexico: Management Practices, Constraints, and Opportunities for Sustainable Development

The objective of this study was to typify and characterize the socioeconomic and technological profiles of beekeepers in north-central Mexico to identify major constraints and opportunities for the development of beekeeping production. A total of 375 beekeepers from seven states (Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Estado de México, Durango, and Aguascalientes) were surveyed. Sociodemographic characteristics, operation size and production, zootechnical and health management practices, and perceived constraints were evaluated. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for dimensionality reduction, followed by hierarchical cluster analysis to identify beekeeper types; inter-group comparisons were performed using ANOVA and chi-square tests. Three groups of beekeepers were identified: low-technology younger (49.6% of the sample), high-technology younger (38.9%), and high-technology older (11.5%) beekeepers. The resulting typology reflected differences in age, experience and training, health management and feed supplementation, operation size, and hive migration. The groups also differed in product diversification and selected management practices, whereas no significant differences were observed in honey yield or number of colonies. Based on the characteristics and constraints identified, the findings support differentiated strategies combining technical training, product diversification, organizational strengthening, and climate adaptation and mitigation measures to enhance the productive capacity, development, and sustainability of beekeeping in the region.