National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
Context:
The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme
It was launched by the Government of India for the overall promotion of scientific beekeeping
The mission is a part of the Sweet Revolution
It has a total budget outlay of Rs. 500 crores for the period FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26
Objectives of NBHM
The main objectives of the mission include:
Promoting the holistic growth of the beekeeping industry for income and employment generation
Developing infrastructural facilities(including quality control labs, honey processing plants, and collection/marketing centres)
Developing a traceability system for honey and other beehive products (such as the Madhukranti portal)
Promoting agri-entrepreneurs and agri-startups in the beekeeping sector
Empowering women through beekeeping
Strengthening beekeepers by forming Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
National Bee Board (NBB)
The National Bee Board (NBB) is the implementing agency for the NBHM scheme
It was registered as a society
The main objective of the NBB is
the overall development and promotion of scientific beekeeping in the country to increase crop productivity (through pollination) and honey production
Honey Export Landscape:
As of 2024, India is the second-largest exporter of honey globally (up from 9th in 2020)
In FY 2023-24, India exported 1.07 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey worth USD 177.52 million
The top global honey exporters include China, India, Ukraine, and Argentina
India's Major Markets:
India's major export destinations are the U.S.A., UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Libya.
The United States is the dominant market, accounting for 78% of India's honey exports.