¨     India's honey sector is undergoing reforms and structural changes under the National Beekeeping and Honey Production Mission (NBHM). This mission is promoting scientific beekeeping across the country and strengthening the honey sector's contribution to rural livelihoods and agricultural production.

National Beekeeping and Honey Production Mission

¨     Introduction: The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a centrally sponsored scheme. Launched by the Government of India, the scheme aims to promote quality honey and other bee products by promoting scientific beekeeping in the country.

¨     Sub-schemes: The NBHM is being implemented through three Mini Missions (MMs) – MM-I, MM-II, and MM-III, focusing on production, post-harvest management, and research, respectively.

¨     Implementing Agency: Implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB) under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the scheme was initially allocated ₹500 crore for the year 2020-23 and was extended for three years till 2025-26.

Objectives

¨     To promote the overall development of the beekeeping industry to boost rural livelihoods, employment, and crop productivity through pollination and sustainable honey production.

¨     To strengthen infrastructure, quality control, traceability, and agri-entrepreneurship, while empowering women and promoting cooperatives to enhance technology utilization, marketing, and export potential.

Rankings

¨     India is projected to be the world's second-largest honey exporter after China in 2024.

¨     Major honey-producing states in India include Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%), and Rajasthan (9%).

¨     Major export destinations for India's honey are the United States of America (USA), United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Libya.

National Bee Board (NBB)

¨     The National Bee Board was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 on July 19, 2000, and reconstituted in June 2006 under the Chairmanship of the Secretary (Agriculture and Promotion).

¨     The primary objective of the NBB is to promote scientific beekeeping, increase crop productivity through pollination, and increase honey production to enhance the income of beekeepers and farmers.

¨     It has been designated as the nodal agency for the overall development and promotion of scientific beekeeping in the country.