Overview
The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme initiated by the Government of India to promote scientific beekeeping and the production of quality honey and other beehive products. This initiative aims to bring about a “Sweet Revolution” in the country. The scheme is implemented through the National Bee Board (NBB) and is a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign.
Key Components and Objectives
Budget and Implementation Period
The mission has a total budget outlay of Rs. 500 crores and is being implemented for the period FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26. The remaining budget from the original allocation is ₹370 crore.
Mini Missions
The NBHM is implemented through 3 Mini Missions (MMs):
- Mini Mission-I: Focuses on production & productivity improvement of various crops through pollination assisted by scientific beekeeping.
- Mini Mission-II: Concentrates on post-harvest management of beekeeping/beehive products, including collection, processing, storage, marketing, and value addition.
- Mini Mission-III: Focuses on research & technology generation for different regions/states/agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions.
Objectives of NBHM
- Promoting holistic growth of the beekeeping industry for income & employment generation.
- Developing additional infrastructural facilities for quality nucleus stock of honeybees.
- Setting up state-of-the-art Quality Control Labs for testing honey & other beehive products.
- Developing a blockchain/traceability system for honey & other beehive products.
- Promoting agri-entrepreneurs & agri-startups in beekeeping/honey production.
- Empowering women through beekeeping.
- Maximizing economic, ecological, and social benefits through beekeeping.
- Strengthening beekeepers through institutional frameworks like Self-Help Groups/Farmer Producer Organizations.
Progress and Achievements
Honey Production and Export
In 2024, India produced approximately 1.4 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey. In FY 2023-24, India exported around 1.07 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey worth USD 177.55 million. India is now the second-largest exporter of honey globally, up from the 9th rank in 2020.
Infrastructure Development
As of March 2025, several infrastructural developments have been sanctioned under NBHM:
- 6 world-class Honey Testing Labs
- 47 Mini Honey Testing Labs
- 6 Disease Diagnostic Labs
- 8 Custom Hiring centers
- 26 Honey Processing Units
- 12 Beekeeping Equipment's Unit
- 18 Collection-Branding & Marketing Units
- 10 Packaging and Cold storage
Technology Adoption
424 hectares of land has been covered as Technology Demonstrations.
The Madhukranti Portal
The Madhukranti portal has been launched for the online registration and traceability of the source of honey and other bee products. This portal aims to ensure the quality and authenticity of honey produced in India.
Exam Relevance
The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission is relevant to the UPSC syllabus under GS Paper III (Economy and Agriculture) and GS Paper II (Government Policies). It highlights government efforts to promote agricultural diversification, enhance farmers' income, and ensure sustainable rural development.