National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) aims for the overall promotion & development of scientific beekeeping in the country to achieve the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution’ which is being implemented through National Bee Board (NBB).

Fund allocation

Keeping in view the importance of beekeeping as part of the Integrated Farming System in the country, government approved the allocation for Rs. 500 crore for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23). The mission was announced as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme in Feb, 2021.

Objective of the mission

The main objective of NBHM is to promote holistic growth of beekeeping industry for income & employment generation for farm and non-farm households, to enhance agriculture/ horticulture production, developing infrastructural facilities, including setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC)s/CoE, honey testing labs, bee disease diagnostic labs, custom hiring centres, Api-therapy centres, nucleus stock, bee breeders, etc. and empowerment of women through beekeeping.

Besides, the scheme also aims to create awareness about scientific bee keeping under Mini Mission-I, post-harvest management of beekeeping, beehive products, including collection, processing, storage, marketing, value addition, etc. under Mini Mission-II and Research & Technology generation in beekeeping under Mini Mission-III. Rs 150.00 Crores has been allotted to NBHM for 2020-21.

Awareness & Capacity building

11 projects of Rs. 2560 lakhs have been sanctioned under NBHM for Awareness & Capacity building in scientific beekeeping, empowerment of Women through beekeeping, technology demonstrations on impact of Honeybees on yield enhancement & quality improvements of agriculture/horticulture produce. It also aims to make farmers aware about the distribution of specialized Beekeeping equipments for production of high value products, viz. Royal Jelly, Bee Venom, Comb Honey, etc, and also about the studies on exploring potential of High Altitude Honey, production of special honey in Kannauj & Hathrus Distts. of UP and use of mustard honey to cure colon cancer during the year 2020-21.chie

Key Facts

Two World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Labs, one at NDDB, Anand, Gujarat & one IIHR, Bengaluru, Karnataka, have been approved/ set up. Lab at Anand has been accredited by NABL and has been inaugurated by Union Minister of Agriculture & Famers Welfare, Govt. of India on 24th July, 2020. Now Lab has started testing of Honey samples for all the parameters notified by FSSAI;

10,000 Beekeepers/Beekeeping & Honey Societies/Firms/Companies with 16.00lakhs honeybee colonies have been registered with NBB.

Proposal for developing Traceability Source of Honey and other Beehive Products approved and work initiated/ started. This will help in controlling the adulteration in honey & other beehive products.

Farmers/ beekeepers have been trained in scientific beekeeping including production of high value beehive products, viz.; Bee Pollen, Propolis, Royal Jelly, Bee Venom, etc.

5 FPOs of Beekeeper/honey producers in the States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & West Bengal have been formed and launched by Minister of Agri.& FW on 26.11.2020.

Honey production has increased from 76,150 MTs (2013-14) to 1,20,000 MTs (2019-20) which is 57.58 % increase.

Export of honey has increased from 28,378.42 MTs (2013-14) to 59536.74MTs (2019-20) which is 109.80 % increase.

16 Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres (IBDCs) as role model of beekeeping have been commissioned, one each in the States of Haryana, Delhi, Bihar, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Awareness created about role of honeybees/beekeeping in pollination support of various crops and adoption of scientific beekeeping.

Beekeeping is an agro-based activity which is being undertaken by farmers/ landless labourers in rural area as a part of Integrated Farming System (IFS). Beekeeping has been useful in pollination of crops, thereby, increasing income of the farmers/beekeepers by way of increasing crop yield and providing honey and other high value beehive products, viz.; bees wax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, etc. Diversified agro climatic conditions of India provide great potential and opportunities for beekeeping/ honey production and export of Honey.

Setting up of quality testing labs

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has been making efforts to address issues relating to quality of honey through setting up of quality testing labs and online registration/ developing traceability system for source of Honey & other beehive products under NBHM.

A World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Lab at NDDB, Anand, Gujarat has been setup under NBHM. The Lab has been accredited by NABL and started working/ testing of honey samples. Already inaugurated by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare on 24th July, 2020.

Standards of Honey, Bees Wax & Royal Jelly notified by FSSAI. SMR & Foreign Oligosaccharides tests included in honey standards notified by FSSAI.

45 projects for assistance of Rs. 88.87 crores approved/sanctioned for funding under NBHM till date, including setting up of honey testing lab at NDDB, Anand and 44 project proposals relating to awareness/seminars & capacity building in scientific beekeeping, empowerment of women through beekeeping, technology demonstrations on impact of honeybees on yield enhancement & quality improvements of Agriculture/Horticulture produce, distribution of specialized beekeeping equipments for production of high value products, viz. royal jelly, bee venom, comb honey, etc., development of quality nucleus stock, online registration/developing traceability source of honey and other beehive products, etc., setting up of 13 mini/ satellite & two big/ regional honey testing labs, api-therapy centre, bee disease diagnostic labs, setting up of honey & other beehive products processing & bottling units, in-house testing labs, collection, trading, branding & marketing centres, storages, etc. and R&D have been sanctioned under NBHM. In these projects, some of the projects are approved for implementation in Aspirational Districts/remote & other difficult areas, including North Eastern & Hilly Areas.

These facilities/projects are being approved/implemented by NBB, DAC&FW on the occasion of Commemoration of 75 Years of India Independence “Bharat ka Amrut Mahotsav” launched by the Prime Minister of India and being celebrated in all parts of the country.

Among others, it has been decided to set up 100 Mini & 4-5 Regional/Big Honey & other Beehive Products Testing Labs in 3 years under NBHM.

70 FPOs of Beekeeper/honey producers, including 65 by NABARD & others and 5 by NAFED in Bihar, UP, MP, Rajasthan & WB, have been formed.

Roadmap for collaboration with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for plantation of bee friendly flora on roadsides & promoting beekeeping is being made.

Honey production

Honey production has increased from 76,150 MTs (2013-14) to 1,20,000 MTs (2019-20). Export of honey has increased from 28378.42 MTs (2013-14) to 59536.74 MTs (2019-20).

29 Bee Breeders have been developed for multiplication/production of quality honeybee colonies along with queens for providing to the trained farmers/beekeepers. Each Bee Breeder produces at least 2000 bee colonies every year.

मधुक्रान्तिपोर्टल

10,000 Beekeepers/Beekeeping & Honey Societies/Firms/Companies with 16.00 lakhs honeybee colonies registered with NBB are uploaded on “मधुक्रान्तिपोर्टल”.

Advisories on Good Beekeeping Practices (GBPs) published & circulated to all State Govts. & concerned Agencies/ Stakeholders.

Awareness created about role of honeybees/beekeeping in pollination support of various crops.

(PIB)