National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)

Details about National Beekeeping & Honey Mission

The National Beekeeping & Honey Mission aims to boost the beekeeping industry by fostering growth, creating jobs, and increasing income for rural and non-rural households. Its key goals include:

1. Holistic Beekeeping Development: Supporting income and job creation by promoting beekeeping, which also helps improve agricultural and horticultural production.
2. Infrastructure Development: Building facilities for high-quality honeybee stock, beekeeping equipment, disease diagnostic labs, and honey processing units.
3. Quality Control Labs: Setting up modern labs at regional and district levels to test honey and other bee products.
4. Traceability Systems: Introducing blockchain and IT tools to track the source of honey and manage beekeeping activities online.
5. Honey Corridors: Establishing honey corridors in promising areas to boost production and trade.
6. Promoting Agri-Entrepreneurship: Encouraging startups and entrepreneurs to venture into beekeeping and honey production.
7. Technology & Skill Development: Sharing the latest beekeeping technologies and providing skill training to enhance production.
8. Empowering Women: Fostering women’s involvement in beekeeping for economic empowerment.
9. Product Diversification: Promoting high-value bee products like beeswax, royal jelly, and bee venom for both domestic and international markets.
10. Beekeeper Cooperatives: Strengthening beekeeper communities by forming Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and cooperatives.

This mission is designed to increase the ecological, economic, and social benefits of beekeeping.

Benefits of the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission

The National Beekeeping & Honey Mission provides several key benefits that support both the environment and the economy:

1. Boosts Crop Yields: Enhances the production and quality of fruits, vegetables, pulses, and oilseeds through better pollination.
2. Promotes Sustainable Agriculture: Supports the long-term growth of agriculture and protects the environment.
3. Maintains Biodiversity: Helps preserve biodiversity by fostering healthy bee populations.
4. Increases Income: Provides beekeepers, farmers, and landless laborers with additional income through the sale of honey and valuable bee products like beeswax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom.
5. Creates Jobs: Generates employment opportunities in the beekeeping industry and related sectors.
6. Supports Livelihoods: Serves as a vital source of income and livelihood for rural communities.
7. Nationwide Prosperity: Contributes to the overall prosperity of farmers and builds a healthier, stronger nation.
8. Encourages Scientific Beekeeping: Promotes the adoption of modern, scientific beekeeping practices for individual and national growth.

These benefits highlight the importance of beekeeping in boosting agricultural productivity, economic development, and environmental sustainability.

What is the eligibility criteria for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission?

Anyone can apply for the scheme

How to apply for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission?

Here’s a simplified step-by-step guide to apply for the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission:

1. Project-Based Application: All components of the scheme are project-based (except for training, seminars, and exposure visits).
2. Submission by Implementing Agencies: Agencies like NDDB, NAFED, TRIFED, SFAC, ICAR, and state agricultural universities can submit projects directly to the National Bee Board.
3. State-Level Submission: State government agencies such as the Department of Horticulture or Agriculture, as well as member companies, firms, societies, SHGs, FPOs, and FIGs, can submit projects through the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC).
4. Project Review: The National Bee Board reviews and appraises submitted projects according to the scheme guidelines before forwarding them to the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC).
5. PAC Review: The PAC, chaired by the Horticulture Commissioner, reviews projects up to ₹1 crore. For projects over ₹1 crore, recommendations are made to the Executive Committee (EC) of the Board, chaired by the Additional Secretary.
6. Approval for Large Projects: Projects above ₹5 crore are reviewed by the Project Appraisal & Monitoring Committee (PA&MC), chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture, for final approval.
7. Registration: Once a project is approved, applicants (individuals, societies, FPOs) must register on the Madhukranti Portal, providing land details and site layout plans.
8. Submit Detailed Project Report (DPR): Submit a complete DPR as per the guidelines.
9. Membership Application: Societies, firms, and cooperatives must apply for lifetime membership with the National Bee Board.

This process ensures transparency and thorough evaluation of beekeeping projects under the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission.

What are the documents required to apply for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission?

The document required are as follows –

1. Aadhaar card
2. Land documents
3. Bank details
4. DPR

Source and References

• Guidelines
• Official Website