New Delhi, August : The Government of India has reported significant progress under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), with the country's honey production increasing from 80,530 metric tonnes (MT) in 2014–15 to 1,51,690 MT in 2025–26, reflecting the growing impact of scientific beekeeping and improved infrastructure.

The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) through the National Bee Board (NBB) as a Central Sector Scheme to promote the holistic development of India's beekeeping industry.

The mission aims to encourage scientific beekeeping, increase the production of honey and other bee products, generate employment and livelihood opportunities, empower women through beekeeping enterprises, strengthen beekeeper institutions, and enhance agricultural and horticultural productivity through improved pollination.

Under the scheme, project-based financial assistance is provided to eligible implementing agencies nominated by Central and State governments for a wide range of activities. These include the establishment of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres, honey testing laboratories, bee disease diagnostic laboratories, Quality Nucleus Stock Development Centres, capacity-building programmes, technology demonstrations, and women-focused beekeeping initiatives.

The mission also supports marketing, branding, value addition, and research and development, helping improve the competitiveness of India's honey sector in both domestic and international markets.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, substantial infrastructure has been created under the mission. So far:

  • 7 world-class honey testing laboratories have been established.
  • 66 mini laboratories have been set up to detect honey adulteration.
  • 83 honey processing units have been established.
  • 90 honey collection, branding, and packaging units have been created to improve storage, quality, and market access.
  • 81 Quality Nucleus Stock Development Centres have been supported to produce quality queen bees and promote colony multiplication.

The Government said the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission complements the efforts of State Governments, implementing agencies, and stakeholder organisations by promoting scientific beekeeping practices, improving honey production, and enhancing agricultural productivity through better pollination services.

The sharp rise in honey production—from 80,530 MT in 2014–15 to 1,51,690 MT in 2025–26 (Second Advance Estimates of Horticulture Crop Statistics)—highlights the growing contribution of the beekeeping sector to rural livelihoods, farmer income, and agricultural sustainability.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.