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National Beekeeping and Honey Mission… — Govt Scheme for UPSC | Vaidra
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National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers WelfareactiveAgricultureLaunched: 2020-06-01

About the Scheme

NBHM promotes scientific beekeeping for the Sweet Revolution and enhances farmer income through pollination services and honey production. Launched FY2020-21 under Atmanirbhar Bharat. Budget: ₹500 crore (2020-23). India jumped from 9th to 2nd largest honey exporter globally. 1.4 lakh MT honey production (2024). Bee pollination increases crop yields 20-30%.

Target Beneficiaries: Beekeepers; farmers benefiting from pollination; honey value chain businesses

Official Website →

✦Key Features

  • India jumped from 9th to 2nd largest honey exporter globally (2020 to 2024)
  • 1.4 lakh MT honey production (2024); budget ₹500 crore (2020-23)
  • Sweet Revolution: named initiative like Blue/White/Green Revolution
  • 3 Mini Missions: production, post-harvest management, R&D
  • Bee pollination increases crop yields 20-30% (free ecosystem service)
  • Madhukranti portal for traceability of honey from hive to market
  • National Bee Board (NBB) implements; GI tagging of varieties (Aravalli, Kashmir, Nilgiri honey)

✓Eligibility Criteria

  • Individual beekeepers, honey producers, and rural youth interested in apiculture.
  • Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Beekeepers' Cooperatives.
  • Public and private sector agencies involved in honey processing and value chain development.
  • Implementing agencies registered with the National Bee Board (NBB).

★Benefits

  • Subsidies for procurement of bee colonies, hives, and beekeeping equipment.
  • Financial support for the establishment of honey testing labs and collection centers.
  • Access to scientific beekeeping training and capacity building workshops.
  • Enhanced market linkages and support for branding and export of honey products.

▶Application Process

  • Register as a member or beekeeper on the National Bee Board (NBB) online portal.
  • Submit an application for financial assistance through the State Horticulture Department or NBB.
  • Provide a detailed project proposal for setting up apiaries or honey processing units.
  • Submit the project for technical evaluation and approval by the state-level committee.

₹ Budget Allocation

500

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): 100% Central Government funding (Central Sector Scheme).

Exam Relevance

GS Paper: GS3

Prelims Relevance7%
Mains Relevance7%

Syllabus Tags

AgricultureBeekeepingFarmer IncomeSweet RevolutionGS3

Historical Context

Announced as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan in 2020 with an outlay of ₹500 crore to promote scientific beekeeping.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Commercial entities not registered with the National Bee Board (NBB).
  • Individuals not possessing basic training in beekeeping (for certain subsidies).

Sub-Schemes

Madhu Kranti Portal

A portal for online registration and traceability of honey sources.

Challenges

  • Adulteration of honey with sugar syrups (C3/C4 sugars).
  • High mortality of bees due to indiscriminate pesticide use.
  • Lack of high-tech testing labs at the district level to certify organic honey.

Reforms & Recommendations

  • Mandatory NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) testing for all honey brands to check adulteration.
  • Introduction of 'Bee Insurance' to cover colony losses.
  • Development of 'Bee Corridors' in horticultural zones.

Performance Statistics

Metric

6th

Source: Ministry of Agriculture

Metric

1,33,200 Metric Tonnes

Source: PIB

Critical Analysis

NBHM is a strategic intervention to usher in the 'Sweet Revolution' in India. Beyond honey production, its most significant (and often underrated) contribution is 'pollination services,' which can increase crop yields by 20-30%. The scheme addresses the highly fragmented nature of the beekeeping sector by encouraging the formation of FPOs. However, the mission faces external threats such as pesticide misuse in agriculture (neonicotinoids) which causes colony collapse, and the challenge of maintaining honey purity amidst widespread adulteration in the commercial market.

SDG Linkages

SDG 2: Zero HungerSDG 15: Life on Land (Pollination/Biodiversity)

Constitutional Backing

Article 48: Organization of agriculture and animal husbandry.

Technology Used

NMR TestingQR code-based traceability on Madhu KrantiDigitized Bee-Colony Monitoring

Success Stories

Honey FPOs in Pulwama

Key Takeaways

  • Three Mini Missions: MM-I (Production/Research), MM-II (Post-harvest management), MM-III (Research & Development).
  • Aims to achieve the 'Sweet Revolution'.
  • National Bee Board (NBB) is the implementing agency.

Probable Questions

The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is not just about honey but about an ecological revolution in Indian agriculture. Comment.

ModerateHigh

Mains Answer Fodder

NBHM serves the dual purpose of enhancing biodiversity (pollination) and doubling farmers' income. It is a key component of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package, emphasizing value addition and exports (India is a top exporter of honey to the USA). It represents the 'circular economy' in agriculture.

Convergence Schemes

  • Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
  • RKVY
  • PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME)

Sector Tags

AgricultureAllied SectorEntrepreneurship