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Sweet Revolution: How India Became World's 2nd Largest Honey Exporter

India has made an incredible leap in global honey exports, climbing from 9th to 2nd position worldwide. This achievement comes through the government's Sweet Revolution initiative and National Beekeeping and Honey Mission. The program focuses on scientific beekeeping and quality honey production with substantial budget allocations. This success story demonstrates how agricultural innovation can transform rural economies and boost national exports.

Key Points: India Emerges as World's Second Largest Honey Exporter

  • India exported 1.07 lakh metric tonnes worth $177.55 million in FY 2023-24
  • National Beekeeping and Honey Mission drives scientific beekeeping development
  • Scheme extended with ₹370 crore budget for 2023-24 to 2025-26
  • Madhukranti portal enables honey traceability and quality assurance
2 min read

'Sweet Revolution': India becomes world's 2nd largest honey exporter

India achieves global honey export milestone, rising from 9th to 2nd position with $177.55 million in shipments through National Beekeeping and Honey Mission.

"India has emerged as the second-largest exporter of honey globally - Official Statement"

New Delhi, Nov 2

India has emerged as the second-largest exporter of honey globally with shipments of around 1.07 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey worth $177.55 million in FY 2023-24, rising steadily from the 9th rank in 2020, an official statement said on Sunday.

The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the government for the overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping and the production of quality honey and other beehive products.

Implemented through the National Bee Board (NBB), the scheme was announced under the banner of Atmanirbhar Bharat with a total budget outlay of Rs 500 crore for three years (FY 2020–21 to 2022–23). It has since been extended for another three years (FY 2023–24 to 2025–26) with a remaining budget of ₹370 crore from the original allocation, according to the statement.

The Madhukranti portal has been launched for the online registration and traceability of the source of honey and other bee products.

India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions offer vast potential for beekeeping, honey production, and export. Recognising its importance in rural development and agricultural sustainability, the Centre launched the NBHM as part of the “Sweet Revolution”, an ambitious initiative aimed at promoting apiculture to accelerate the production of quality honey and boost farmers’ income through scientific and organised beekeeping.

Beekeeping, an agro-based activity undertaken by farmers and landless labourers in rural areas, forms an integral part of the Integrated Farming System. It plays a crucial role in pollination, thereby enhancing crop yields and farmers’ income while providing honey and other high-value beehive products such as beeswax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, etc., all of which serve as important sources of livelihood for rural communities.

The NBHM is being implemented through 3 Mini Missions. Under Mini Mission-I, the thrust is being given on production & productivity improvement of various crops through pollination assisted by the adoption of scientific beekeeping. Mini Mission-II concentrates on post-harvest management of beekeeping/beehive products, including collection, processing, storage, marketing, value addition, etc., with a thrust to develop requisite infrastructural facilities for these activities, while Mini Mission-III focuses on research & technology generation for different regions, the statement added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Great achievement but we need to ensure quality standards are maintained. Some local markets still sell adulterated honey. The Madhukranti portal for traceability is a good step forward.
A
Arjun K
Beekeeping is such an underrated profession in India. It not only provides honey but also helps in crop pollination. More youth should consider this as a sustainable business opportunity. Jai Kisan! 🙏
S
Sarah B
As someone who imports Indian honey to Canada, I can confirm the quality has improved significantly in recent years. The diverse floral sources in India give the honey unique flavors that customers love.
V
Vikram M
₹500 crore investment showing results! This is what happens when government schemes are properly implemented. Hope this success continues and we become number 1 soon. 🇮🇳
K
Kavya N
The three mini missions approach is very comprehensive - covering production, processing and research. This holistic strategy will benefit our rural economy tremendously. More power to our beekeepers! 🐝
M
Michael C
Impressive growth story! The focus on scientific beekeeping and quality control is key. India's diverse climate gives it a natural advantage in honey production. Well done!

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