India has become the world’s second-largest exporter of natural honey, with shipments reaching 1.07 lakh metric tonnes worth $177.55 million in 2023–24, marking a significant leap from the ninth position in 2020, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.
The achievement reflects the country’s growing success in organised apiculture and its commitment to scientific beekeeping.
This growth has been largely driven by the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) , a Central Sector Scheme launched under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative to promote beekeeping, enhance quality honey production, and generate livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
Implemented through the National Bee Board, the mission was initially sanctioned with a budget of Rs. 500 crore for three years, from 2020–21 to 2022–23, and later extended till 2025–26 with a remaining allocation of Rs. 370 crore from the original outlay.
The government has also introduced the Madhukranti portal to ensure online registration and traceability of honey and other bee products, improving transparency and export standards.
Officials said India’s diverse agro-climatic conditions have made it an ideal hub for honey production and beekeeping, contributing to both agricultural sustainability and rural income.
Recognising this potential, the Centre launched the NBHM as part of the “Sweet Revolution,” an ambitious initiative aimed at boosting apiculture, enhancing pollination-based crop productivity, and supporting farmers through organised beekeeping.
The practice, undertaken by farmers and landless labourers in rural areas, plays a vital role in pollination, thereby increasing crop yields while providing honey and other high-value products such as beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom.
Under the NBHM, emphasis has been placed on improving crop productivity through pollination, developing post-harvest management systems for collection, processing and marketing, and promoting research and technology to strengthen region-specific beekeeping practices.
Together, these efforts have transformed India into a major player in the global honey market, symbolising the country’s growing self-reliance and the sweetness of success shared across its rural heartland.