Opinion | National Beekeeping & Honey Mission Scheme, a game changer

Zakir Hussain Bhat, a resident of Kupwara, began his beekeeping initiative with only five colonies. To expand his enterprise and create a brand that produces Kupwara Honey for a wider market, he received assistance of INR 25 lakh from the state government, which allowed his initiative to grow multifold.

Today, Bhat’s Honey Processing and Bottling Plant in Gulgam have a daily capacity of two quintals. His initiative now manages over 200 colonies, producing 200 quintals of honey annually and employing several others.

His success story has inspired hundreds of youngsters in northern Kashmir.

In Kupwara district alone, beekeeping has emerged as a major income diversification initiative through both administrative support and individual enterprise.

Supported by the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM), a flagship initiative under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare providing training and infrastructure, over 500 farmers now produce 480 quintals of organic honey annually, generating INR 3 crore in turnover.

According to Bhat, the process of beekeeping certainly requires headwork and willingness to learn apart from Government support: “I am planning to obtain GI tagging for Kupwara Organic Honey to further enhance market access and prices,” he says.

Features of National Beekeeping and Honey Mission Scheme

Beekeeping is an important activity for farmers and landless workers in rural areas across India. It helps in pollination, which increases crop yield and supports income generation of farmers. Apart from honey, other bee products like beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom are also sources of income for farmers.

Aiding the farmers produce, the scheme of National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) therefore aims to improve the beekeeping sector in an organized way and increase farmers’ earnings through the “Sweet Revolution.”

In 2020, government of India started this scheme with an agenda to promote beekeeping and increase the production of honey and other bee products. It is a Central Sector Scheme under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with a total budget of INR 500 crore.

The scheme is being implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB) and will continue till the financial year 2025–2026. Government estimates to assist farmers in three stages of bee keeping and honey production.

Mini Mission I focus on improving crop productivity through pollination and promoting scientific beekeeping. Mini Mission II deals with post-harvest management, including collection, processing, packaging, and marketing of honey and bee products. Mini Mission III supports research and technology development suited to different regions and conditions.

The NBHM also supports the creation of testing laboratories, cold storages, and honey processing units. In that context, Madhukranti Portal has been launched to record the source and movement of honey and bee products, ensuring traceability and better monitoring. So far more than 14,800 beekeepers, 269 societies, and 206 companies have been registered on the Madhukranti Portal.

Progress so far

As per official estimates, India produces around 1.4 lac metric tonnes of natural honey in 2024. Government data suggest the country exported about 1.07 lakh metric tonnes in 2023–2024, valued at USD 177.55 million. This has made India the second-largest exporter of honey in the world, compared to ninth position in 2020.

Till March 2025, several facilities have been approved under the NBHM, including six main honey testing laboratories, 47 mini labs, and 26 honey processing units. Technology demonstrations on beekeeping have been carried out on about 424 hectares, and 288 hectares have been developed with bee-friendly flora.

The NBHM Mission has supported 167 activities for women’s self-help groups in different states. A National Centre of Excellence in Beekeeping has been set up at IIT Roorkee. The scheme has also helped form 100 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) of beekeepers and honey producers, of which 97 have already been registered.

Role of Beekeeping in Farming

Beekeeping helps increase farm income by improving crop yield through pollination. It can be integrated easily with agriculture, horticulture, and other rural activities. The presence of bees benefits crops such as mustard, sunflower, and various fruits. This link between farming and beekeeping supports the goal of sustainable agriculture and rural employment.

The role of the NBHM is intermediately encouraging farmers to adopt scientific beekeeping practices and to form cooperatives or FPOs for better marketing and collective benefits.

Training and capacity building are also part of the Mission’s activities.

Concerns and Prospects

Despite India making progress in honey production and export, there are challenges that need emphasis. Domestic consumption of honey remains limited compared to the export market. Ensuring the quality of honey is also a key concern, as there have been instances of adulteration in the past. Regular testing and traceability through the Madhukranti Portal can help reduce such issues.

Environmental factors such as pesticide use and loss of vegetation also affect bee populations. Promoting bee-friendly crops and reducing harmful chemicals are important for sustaining beekeeping.

Going ahead, the focus should be on increasing domestic demand, improving quality control systems, supporting research in bee health, and promoting value-added products like wax and royal jelly.

The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission have helped bring structure to the beekeeping sector in India. It has improved production, exports, and rural income while building institutional and digital support systems.

With continued focus on quality, training, and ecological balance, the Mission is playing an important role in achieving the goals of the “Sweet Revolution” and strengthening the relationship between farming and rural development.