Comprehensive Guide to Beekeeping Institutions in India

Beekeeping in India is backed by a well-organized network of government bodies, research institutes, and regulatory authorities. These institutions handle everything from grassroots training and scientific research to policy coordination and international trade facilitation. Whether you’re a new beekeeper or someone studying apiculture, knowing which organization does what – and how to access their support – is essential. Let’s look at the key institutions shaping India’s beekeeping sector.

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) 🔗

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). It was established in 1957 under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956. Among the 12 specified village industries under KVIC, beekeeping holds a prominent place.

KVIC’s involvement in beekeeping development runs deep. It has promoted the formation of about 25 lakh bee colonies over the decades, with approximately 2.5 lakh beekeepers contributing to honey production across the country. The Commission operates through 16 State Beekeeping Extension Centers (SBECs) that coordinate beekeeping programmes at the state and regional levels.

Honey Mission and Sweet Kranti 🔗

In 2017-18, KVIC launched the Honey Mission, inspired by the Prime Minister’s call for a “Sweet Revolution” (Sweet Kranti) alongside the White Revolution. Under this programme, beneficiaries receive bee boxes, live bee colonies, tool kits, and training. The mission targets farmers, Adivasi communities, unemployed youth, and women in rural and economically backward regions.

Since its launch, the Honey Mission has distributed over 1,86,000 bee boxes and generated more than 18,600 direct employment opportunities. KVIC also connects beekeepers with financial support through the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which extends loans, subsidies, and training for setting up honey processing plants.

Financial support through KVIC 🔗

National bodies approve approximately Rs. 49.78 crore annually through KVIC for beekeeping. This amount is earmarked for providing employment and income to rural youth – both men and women. Additionally, 29 honey clusters have been approved under the SFURTI (Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries) scheme, benefitting over 13,000 beekeepers with government financial assistance of Rs. 68.65 crore.

Central Bee Research and Training Institute (CBRTI) 🔗

The Central Bee Research and Training Institute (CBRTI), located in Shivajinagar, Pune, is India’s premier institution for apicultural research, training, and technology dissemination. It was initially established as a small agricultural lab in Mahabaleshwar in 1952 and moved to Pune in 1962. CBRTI operates under the administrative umbrella of KVIC but deserves special attention because of its specialized research and training mandate.

Research activities 🔗

CBRTI conducts research across multiple domains of apiculture science. Key areas include developing improved bee breeds, studying bee diseases and their management, designing optimal hive equipment for Indian conditions, and exploring new applications for bee products. Research areas also cover Varroa management, pollination under protected environments, mass queen rearing, royal jelly production, and the development of new beekeeping equipment.

The institute also houses specialized departments including apiculture, a bee museum, bee chemistry, bee pathology, and a pollen analysis lab. Researchers at CBRTI verify floral sources and detect adulterants in honey through advanced testing methods.

Training programmes 🔗

CBRTI offers training programmes tailored to different audiences. Basic beekeeping courses cover bee biology, seasonal management, and honey extraction – ideal for beginners. Advanced courses address queen rearing, disease management, and commercial beekeeping operations. The institute has trained more than 50,000 people in beekeeping over the years. It is also recognized internationally as a beekeeping research and training center for developing countries in Asia and Africa.

Another important function of CBRTI is training the trainers. The institute conducts specialized programmes for extension workers, agricultural officers, and NGO personnel, who then carry this knowledge to rural areas. This multiplier effect ensures that scientific beekeeping practices spread to even the most remote regions of the country.

National Bee Board (NBB) 🔗

The National Bee Board (NBB) is the apex coordination body for beekeeping development in India. It was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act on July 19, 2000, and reconstituted in June 2006 under the chairmanship of the Secretary (Agriculture & Cooperation). NBB functions under the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare.

Objectives and functions 🔗

The primary objective of NBB is the overall development and promotion of scientific beekeeping in the country. Unlike KVIC’s hands-on grassroots work or CBRTI’s research focus, NBB operates at a policy and coordination level. Its functions include promoting scientific beekeeping to increase crop productivity through pollination, conducting research and development on honey processing, sketching out national schemes, and establishing training programmes through research institutions.

NBB also works closely with the Bureau of Indian Standards to develop quality standards for honey, beeswax, royal jelly, and other bee products. These standards are critical for both domestic consumption and international exports.

National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) 🔗

NBB’s most significant programme is the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The mission has a total budget outlay of Rs. 500 crore and is being implemented from FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26.

NBHM operates through three Mini Missions:

Mini Mission-I focuses on production and productivity improvement of crops through pollination by adopting scientific beekeeping. Mini Mission-II concentrates on post-harvest management – covering collection, processing, storage, marketing, and value addition of bee products. Mini Mission-III is dedicated to research and technology generation for different regions and agro-climatic conditions.

The results have been significant. By 2024, India produced approximately 1.4 lakh metric tonnes of natural honey. The government has also sanctioned 6 world-class honey testing labs, 47 mini honey testing labs, 26 honey processing units, and multiple disease diagnostic labs across the country. A National Centre of Excellence in Beekeeping has been sanctioned at IIT Roorkee.

Madhukranti portal 🔗

Under NBHM, the government launched the Madhukranti portal for online registration and traceability of honey and other bee products. As of October 2025, about 14,859 beekeepers, 269 beekeeping societies, 150 firms, and 206 companies have registered on this digital platform. The portal is designed to track the source of honey, helping check adulteration and ensuring quality for both domestic and export markets.

National Horticulture Mission (NHM) 🔗

The National Horticulture Mission (NHM), now integrated into the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), is not exclusively a beekeeping programme. However, its role in supporting apiculture is substantial. NHM recognizes that honeybees are critical pollinators for horticultural crops, and supports beekeeping as a component under its pollination support programme.

How NHM supports beekeeping 🔗

NHM provides financial assistance for establishing apiaries, particularly in horticultural areas where pollination services are most valuable. The mission also supports infrastructure development such as honey processing units and storage facilities. What makes NHM’s approach distinct is its emphasis on the economic value of pollination services. Rather than viewing beekeeping only as a honey production enterprise, NHM factors in the increased crop yields and quality improvements that bee pollination delivers.

The State Designated Agency (SDA) or any institution with relevant capability coordinates beekeeping development programmes under NHM at the state level, while NBB remains responsible for national-level coordination.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) 🔗

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, plays a crucial role in promoting the export of honey and other bee products from India. While the organizations discussed above focus on production, training, and research, APEDA’s mandate is squarely focused on taking Indian bee products to the global market.

Export promotion and market expansion 🔗

India exported approximately 1.07 lakh metric tonnes of natural honey worth USD 177.55 million in FY 2023-24. As of marketing year 2024, India has become the second-largest exporter of honey globally, rising from the 9th position in 2020. The United States remains the dominant market, absorbing over 80% of Indian honey exports, with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bangladesh, and Canada as other key destinations.

APEDA actively collaborates with state governments, farmers, and other stakeholders to diversify export markets toward the UK, European Union, and Southeast Asia. It facilitates honey producers in accessing export markets by providing government assistance under different schemes, quality certification, and lab testing support.

Quality standards and Minimum Export Price 🔗

One of APEDA’s most important contributions to the beekeeping sector has been imposing a Minimum Export Price (MEP) of USD 2,000 per metric tonne (approximately Rs. 167 per kg) for natural honey. This measure was introduced to protect Indian beekeepers from unfair pricing in global markets and ensure fair returns.

APEDA also helps Indian honey producers navigate international quality requirements. Different importing countries have varying standards, and APEDA assists exporters with compliance, organic certification, and other quality assurance programmes. India exports a range of honey varieties including rapeseed/mustard honey, eucalyptus honey, lychee honey, sunflower honey, and multi-flora Himalayan honey.

Other supporting institutions 🔗

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) 🔗

ICAR manages the All India Coordinated Research Project on Honeybees and Pollinators (AICRP), which was launched in 1980-81. The project initially operated from the Central Bee Research Institute (now CBRTI) in Pune. It currently functions with 18 regular coordinating centres and 6 voluntary centres across the country, conducting location-specific research on pollinators under diverse agro-ecological conditions.

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) 🔗

KVKs play a ground-level role in beekeeping extension. Under NBHM’s Mini Mission-I, KVKs across the country organize scientific beekeeping training programmes – both physical (7-day batches of 25 participants) and online sessions. These trainings focus on bee biology, seasonal colony management, honey processing, and the economic benefits of bee pollination for agriculture.

State-level bodies 🔗

Each state has its own agricultural departments with sections dedicated to beekeeping support. States like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and those in the North-East have developed specialized beekeeping promotion programmes tailored to their local flora and climatic conditions. Some states have also constituted their own State Bee Boards and State Beekeeping Missions that work in coordination with NBB and NBHM at the national level.

How these institutions work together 🔗

The real strength of India’s beekeeping ecosystem lies in how these institutions complement each other. KVIC handles grassroots empowerment and livelihood creation. CBRTI provides the scientific backbone through research and training. NBB coordinates policy and implements the national mission. NHM integrates beekeeping with horticulture development. APEDA connects the entire value chain to international markets. And ICAR, KVKs, and state bodies ensure that scientific knowledge and government support reach the last mile.

Under NBHM, all these agencies – along with organizations like NABARD, TRIFED, NAFED, NDDB, and various state departments – work in convergence. This coordinated approach has helped India move from being an unorganized beekeeping sector to becoming the world’s second-largest honey exporter in just a few years.

What do you think? With so many institutions actively supporting beekeeping, which one do you believe has the most direct impact on a new beekeeper’s success? And as India scales up its honey exports, how important is maintaining quality standards in preserving the country’s reputation in global markets?

References

1. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1737656
2. https://msme.gov.in/sites/default/files/Beekeeping.pdf
3. https://www.indiafilings.com/learn/national-beekeeping-honey-mission-nbhm
4. https://www.mypunepulse.com/pune-first-institute-of-bee-research-development-honey-manufacturing-inspires-and-educates-people-about-honeybee-conservation/
5. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Op-Chaudhary/publication/329802362_CBRTI_-_a_profile/links/5c1b74fc299bf12be38c9472/CBRTI-a-profile.pdf
6. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2185400
7. https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/national-bee-board/
8. https://www.pepperhub.in/government-schemes-for-beekeeping/
9. https://apeda.gov.in/NaturalHoney
10. https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1787763
11. https://aicrp.icar.gov.in/honeybee/