The National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) launched in 2021 by the Government of India which is driving the ambitious "Sweet Revolution.

About National Beekeeping and Honey Mission
The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme launched by the Government of India to promote the holistic growth of the beekeeping sector, with the goal of achieving a "Sweet Revolution" in the country. The scheme aims to boost farmers' income, enhance agricultural production through pollination, and generate employment opportunities in rural areas. 

Key Details

• Implementing Agency: The National Bee Board (NBB) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Funding: It is a 100% Central Government-funded scheme.
• Period and Budget: Launched in 2020 with a ₹500 crore outlay for three years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2022-23), it has been extended through FY 2025-26 using remaining funds. 

Implementation Structure
The mission is implemented through three Mini Missions (MMs): 

• Mini Mission-I: Focuses on improving production and productivity through scientific beekeeping and pollination.
• Mini Mission-II: Deals with post-harvest management and infrastructure development for beehive products.
• Mini Mission-III: Supports research and technology generation for different agro-climatic conditions. 

Achievements
India is now the world's second-largest honey exporter. Under the NBHM, achievements include sanctioning testing labs and processing units, developing Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and registering thousands of beekeepers on the Madhukranti portal to improve traceability and quality control. 

Objectives of National Beekeeping and Honey Mission
The primary objectives of India's National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) are to promote the holistic growth of the beekeeping industry and achieve the goal of a "Sweet Revolution" in the country. This is intended to boost farmers' income, generate employment, and enhance agricultural production through scientific beekeeping practices. 

Key objectives include:

• Income and Employment Generation: To create livelihood support for farm and non-farm households, especially in rural areas, through beekeeping.
• Enhancing Crop Productivity: To improve the yield and quality of various crops (fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, pulses, etc.) by promoting beekeeping for pollination support.
• Infrastructure Development: To build essential facilities such as:
  • Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres (IBDCs)/Centres of Excellence (CoEs).
  • State-of-the-art honey and beehive product testing labs.
  • Bee disease diagnostic labs, bee equipment manufacturing units, and processing plants.
• Quality Control and Traceability: To establish robust systems, including the "Madhukranti" portal and blockchain technology, for online registration and source traceability of honey to ensure quality and prevent adulteration.
• Technological Advancement & Skill Development: To promote, develop, and disseminate the latest scientific technologies and provide skill development training to beekeepers.
• Empowerment of Women: To specifically focus on training and capacity building for women through the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for involvement in beekeeping.
• Market Support and Value Addition: To assist with the post-harvest management of beehive products, including collection, processing, storage, branding, and marketing for both domestic and export markets.
• Strengthening Institutional Framework: To support beekeepers by encouraging collective approaches through the formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and federations.
• Diversification of Products: To maximize economic benefits by producing other high-value beehive products like beeswax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom. 

The mission is implemented through three Mini Missions focusing on (I) Production and Productivity, (II) Post-harvest management, and (III) Research and Technology generation.

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