New Delhi, Nov 2 (NationPress) India has ascended to the position of the world’s second-largest honey exporter, with exports reaching approximately 1.07 lakh metric tonnes (MT) valued at $177.55 million for the fiscal year 2023-24. This marks a significant improvement from its 9th ranking in 2020, according to an official announcement made this Sunday.

The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme initiated by the government aimed at the comprehensive enhancement and development of scientific beekeeping alongside the production of high-quality honey and other beehive products.

Executed through the National Bee Board (NBB), the initiative was introduced under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework with an allocated budget of Rs 500 crore for a span of three years (FY 2020–21 to 2022–23). It has now been extended for an additional three years (FY 2023–24 to 2025–26), with a remaining budget of ₹370 crore from the initial allocation, as stated.

The Madhukranti portal has been established to facilitate online registration and ensure traceability of honey and other bee products.

India’s varied agro-climatic conditions present vast opportunities for beekeeping, honey production, and export. Acknowledging its significance for rural development and agricultural sustainability, the Centre initiated the NBHM as part of the “Sweet Revolution”, an ambitious program designed to advance apiculture, enhance the quality of honey production, and increase farmers’ incomes through organized and scientific beekeeping.

Beekeeping, an agro-based practice undertaken by farmers and landless laborers in rural areas, is a vital component of the Integrated Farming System. It plays a pivotal role in pollination, thus boosting crop yields and farmers’ earnings while providing honey and various high-value beehive products like beeswax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom, all of which are crucial for the livelihoods of rural communities.

The NBHM is being executed through three Mini Missions. Mini Mission-I emphasizes enhancing production and productivity of various crops via pollination supported by scientific beekeeping. Mini Mission-II focuses on post-harvest management of beekeeping and beehive products, including collection, processing, storage, marketing, and value addition, while also aiming to develop essential infrastructure for these activities. Mini Mission-III is dedicated to research and technology development tailored to different regions, as noted in the statement.