National Beekeeping & Honey Mission

National Beekeeping & Honey Mission

Key Takeaways

 

Introduction

The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Government of India for the overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping and the production of quality honey and other beehive products. Implemented through the National Bee Board (NBB), the scheme was announced under the banner of Atmanirbhar Bharat with a total budget outlay of ₹500 crore for three years (FY 2020–21 to 2022–23). It has since been extended for another three years (FY 2023–24 to 2025–26) with a remaining budget of ₹370 crore from the original allocation.

Beekeeping, an agro-based activity undertaken by farmers and landless labourers in rural areas, forms an integral part of the Integrated Farming System. It plays a crucial role in pollination, thereby enhancing crop yields and farmers’ income while providing honey and other high-value beehive products such as beeswax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, etc., all of which serve as important sources of livelihood for rural communities.

Integrated farming (or integrated agriculture) is a commonly and broadly used word to explain a more integrated approach to farming as compared to existing monoculture approaches. It refers to agricultural systems that integrate livestock, fisheries, crop production, horticulture, etc.

India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions offer vast potential for beekeeping, honey production, and export. Recognizing its importance in rural development and agricultural sustainability, the Government of India launched the NBHM as part of the “Sweet Revolution”, an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting apiculture to accelerate the production of quality honey and boost farmers’ income through scientific and organized beekeeping.

Sub Schemes under NBHM

The NBHM is being implemented through 3 Mini Missions (MMs) – MM-I, MM-II & MM- III:

Objectives of NBHM

The main objectives of NBHM are:

Progress and Achievements of NBHM

In Marketing Year 2024 (January to December), India produced approx. 1.4 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey. Further, the government has made several efforts to ensure the progress of NBHM:

Export of Natural Honey from India

India exports a variety of natural honey like Rapeseed/Mustard Honey, Eucalyptus Honey, Lychee Honey, Sunflower Honey, etc. Major Indian states producing honey are: Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%) and Rajasthan (9%).

India exported around 1.07 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey worth USD 177.52 million in FY 2023-24. This is a commendable rise in exports since FY 2020-21 when India exported 59,999 MT of natural honey worth USD 96.77 million.

Major export destinations included U.S.A, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Libya.

As per the July 2025 Monthly Dashboard for Honey, prepared jointly by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Crisil, globally, India is the second largest exporter of honey, after China, as of marketing year 2024, up from the 9^th rank in 2020.

National Bee Board (NBB)

National Bee Board was registered as a society under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, on July 19, 2000, and was reconstituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary (A&C) in June, 2006. The main objective of NBB is overall development, promotion of scientific beekeeping in the country to increase the productivity of crops through pollination and increase the honey production for increasing the income of the beekeepers/farmers. NBB has been designated/recognized as Nodal Agency for overall development/promotion of scientific beekeeping in the country. The scheme NBHM is being implemented by NBB.

Nation-Wide Implementation Structure

Level

Key Institutions / Committees

Main Functions

National Level

Mission / PMU (Project Management Unit)

Overall coordination, monitoring, and management of NBHM

General Council / National Level Steering Committee (GC/NLSC)

Apex body giving policy direction, review, and guidance

Project Approval & Monitoring Committee (PA&MC)

Approval and monitoring of projects under NBHM

Executive Committee (EC)

Examination and approval of project proposals received in NBB

Project Appraisal Committee (PAC)

Appraisal and recommendation of project proposals

National Level Nodal Agency

Central implementing and coordinating agency

State Level

State Level Steering Committee (SLSC)

Approval, implementation, and monitoring of state-level activities

District Level Committee (DLC)

District-level approval, monitoring, and coordination

Implementing Agencies

State Departments, NDDB, NAFED, ICAR, KVIC, TRIFED, SRLM/NRLM, MSME bodies, and NBB member institutions

Field-level implementation, training, infrastructure creation, and R&D

 

Success Stories of Beekeeping from Rural India

In Nongthymmai village of Meghalaya, beekeeping has long been a traditional practice, believed to bring health and vitality to households. Once a hobby, it has now become a key source of income for many families. Shri Stevenson Shadap, who began beekeeping out of passion, transformed it into a profitable venture after receiving training through the Umsning Enterprise Facilitation Centre (EFC). By expanding his bee colonies and improving production and packaging, he now earns between ₹1 to 2 lakhs annually from honey sales in Nongpoh and Shillong markets, with demand exceeding supply. The community, inspired by his success, is forming a beekeepers’ society to enhance collective honey production, packaging, marketing, and develop value-added products. Shri Shadap remains optimistic that the Meghalaya’s Apiculture Mission will help them reach larger markets and sustain this generational livelihood.

 

In Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, beekeeping has emerged as a major income diversification initiative through both administrative support and individual enterprise. The government has promoted the rearing of Apis mellifera bees by providing 2,000 colonies to new beekeepers at a 40% subsidy and establishing a ₹25 lakh Honey Processing and Bottling Plant at Gulgam with a daily capacity of 2 quintals, branding the produce as “Kupwara Honey” for wider markets. Local youth like Zakir Hussain Bhat, who began with five colonies, now manage over 200 colonies producing 200 quintals of honey annually and employing others. Supported by training from the government and infrastructure, over 500 farmers now produce 480 quintals of organic honey annually, generating ₹3 crore in turnover. Plans for GI tagging of “Kupwara Organic Honey” are underway to further enhance market access and prices.

Conclusion

The National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) represents a pivotal, multi-faceted initiative by the Government of India, driving the ambitious “Sweet Revolution” by promoting scientific beekeeping through funding and a structured implementation plan using the three Mini Missions. NBHM is successfully transitioning beekeeping from a traditional practice to a robust, technology-driven industry.

References

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Annual Report (2024-25): https://www.agriwelfare.gov.in/Documents/HomeWhatsNew/AR_Eng_2024_25.pdf

https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/267/AU2415_c1unCP.pdf?source=pqars

https://nbb.gov.in/Archive/Guidelines.pdf

https://madhukranti.in/NBB/

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

https://apeda.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-08/MIC_July_Monthly_dashboard_Honey_260825.pdf

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1787763

https://apeda.gov.in/NaturalHoney

NABARD

https://www.nabard.org/auth/writereaddata/careernotices/0810180025ADS%20Alappuzha%20edited.pdf

Niti Aayog

https://www.niti.gov.in/honeyed-shot-arm-aatmanirbhar-bharat

Meghalaya Government

https://megipr.gov.in/docs/Success%20Stories_2.pdf

Jammu and Kashmir Government

https://kupwara.nic.in/achievements/success-story-apiculture-sector/

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