Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister

Government of India

June 2019
Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

Contents
i. List of Abbreviations................................................................................................................................................vi
ii. List of Figures...........................................................................................................................................................viii
iii. Objectives for constituting Beekeeping Development Committee by EAC-PM............................... x
iv. Acknowledgements..................................................................................................................................................xi
v. Executive summary................................................................................................................................................ xii
Chapter 1 Beekeeping and its benefits...........................................................................................................1
a. Role of bee keeping in agriculture.............................................................................................................1
b. Role in employment generation, rural development and nutritional security......................2
c. Role in biodiversity and environmental sustainability....................................................................4
Chapter 2 Diversity of honey bees.....................................................................................................................5
a. Rock bee (Apis dorsata)..................................................................................................................................5
b. Little bee (Apis florea).....................................................................................................................................6
c. Indian honey bee (Apis cerana)..................................................................................................................6
d. Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera)..............................................................................................................7
e. Stingless bee (Tetragonula iridipennis)...................................................................................................7
F. Social organization of bees...........................................................................................................................8
Chapter 3 Bee products...........................................................................................................................................9
a. Honey.....................................................................................................................................................................9
b. Royal Jelly..........................................................................................................................................................10
c. Pollen..................................................................................................................................................................10
d. Beeswax.............................................................................................................................................................11
e. Bee Venom........................................................................................................................................................12
e. Propolis..............................................................................................................................................................12
Chapter 4 Beekeeping equipments................................................................................................................13
a. Bee hives............................................................................................................................................................13
b. Other beekeeping accessories..................................................................................................................14
Chapter 5 Status of beekeeping in India.....................................................................................................15
a. History of beekeeping..................................................................................................................................15
b. Migratory Beekeeping.................................................................................................................................16
c. Floral calendar preparation......................................................................................................................21
d. Honey production, consumption and export.....................................................................................25

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i. Indian scenario......................................................................................................................................25
ii. World scenario......................................................................................................................................28
e. Pests and diseases attacking honey bees............................................................................................30
Chapter 6 Multiple agencies dealing with beekeeping in India....................................................32
a. ICAR-AICRP on Honey bees and pollinators......................................................................................33
b. National Bee Board.......................................................................................................................................34
c. Khadi and Village Industries Commission and CBRTI...................................................................36
Chapter 7 Setting up of Beekeeping Development Committee......................................................37
a. Terms of Reference:......................................................................................................................................37
b. Constitution and term of reference of Sub-Committees: 1 and 2.............................................38
c. Stakeholder consultation meetings.......................................................................................................38
Chapter 8 Issues identified during stakeholder consultation meetings..................................40
a. Sub-Committee: 1..........................................................................................................................................40
b. Sub-Committee: 2..........................................................................................................................................42
Chapter 9 Recommendations of BDC............................................................................................................45
Chapter 10 Implementing agencies..................................................................................................................51
10.1 MoA&FW, Secretary DARE and DG, ICAR...................................................................................51
10.2 MoA&FW, DAC&FW.............................................................................................................................52
10.3 MoMSME, KVIC and State KVIBs...................................................................................................54
10.4 MoH&FW, FSSAI....................................................................................................................................55
10.5 Ministry of Finance..............................................................................................................................55
10.6 Ministry of Law and Justice.............................................................................................................56
10.7 Ministry of Road Transport and Highways...............................................................................56
10.8 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.........................................................56
10.9 Ministry of Commerce and Industry, APEDA...........................................................................57
10.10 Ministry of Women and Child Development............................................................................57
10.11 Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports............................................................................................57
10.12 Ministry of Defence.............................................................................................................................57
10.13 Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation......................................................57
10.14 Ministry of Information and Broadcasting................................................................................57

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Annexes ......................................................................................................................................................................59
Annex 1. Floral calendars of different districts of Maharashtra state.............................................61
Annex 2. District maps of Maharashtra state showing major cereal, oilseed and pulse
growing areas........................................................................................................................................94

Annex 3. Constitution of Beekeeping Development Committee by EAC-PM.................................96

Annex 4. Record note of the BDC meeting held at EAC-PM on 6th June 2018................................98

Annex 5. Locations at which Stake holder consultation meetings were held in different
regions of India.................................................................................................................................. 102

Annex 6. Record note of the BDSC-1 meeting held on 18th July 2018 at Division of
Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
[covering Northern Region].......................................................................................................... 103

Annex 7. Record note of the BDSC-1 meeting held on 5th September 2018 at Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University, Coimbatore [covering Southern Region]............................... 108

Annex 8. Record note of the BDSC-2 meeting held on 12th September 2018
at Ram Nagar, Kurukshethra........................................................................................................ 116

Annex 9. Record note of the BDSC-1 meeting held on 4th October 2018 at Central
Agricultural University, Imphal [covering North East Region]...................................... 124

Annex 10. Record note of the BDSC-1 meeting held on 16th October 2018 at Central Bee
Research and Training Institute, Pune [covering Western Region]............................ 134

Annex 11. Record note of the BDSC-1 meeting held on 15th November 2018
at SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar [covering J&K Region]........................................................ 139

Annex 12. Record note of the BDSC-1 meeting held on 5th December 2018 at Krushi
Bhavan, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar [covering Eastern Region]............. 144
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................................................148

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LIST OF
ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations Expansions
1. AICRP (HB & P) All India Coordinated Research Project on Honey Bees and Pollinators
2. BDC Beekeeping Development Committee
3. BIS Bureau of Indian Standards
4. CAU Central Agricultural University
5. CBRTI Central Bee Research and Training Institute
6. CSO Central Statistics Office
7. DAC&FW Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare
8. DARE Department of Agricultural Research and Education
9. EAC-PM Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
10. FPI Food Processing Industries
11. FPO Farmer Producer Organisation
12. FSDF Farm Sector Development Fund
13. FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
14. FST Food Science & Technology
15. GoI Government of India
16. HPBI Honey and Pollinators Board of India
17. ICAR Indian Council of Agricultural Research
18. IIHBPR Indian Institute of Honey bees and Pollinators Research
19. KVIB Khadi and Village Industries Board
20. KVIC Khadi and Village Industries Commission
21. MIDH Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture
22. MoA&FW Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
23. MoC&I Ministry of Commerce and Industry
24. MoEF&CC Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change

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25. MoFPI Ministry of Food Processing Industries

26. MoH&FW Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
27. MOMSME Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
28. NABARD National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
29. NAD National Accounts Division
30. NIFTEM National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and
Management
31. NBB National Bee Board
32. NGO Non Governmental organisation
33. NHM National Horticultural Mission
34. PAU Punjab Agricultural University
35. SDG Sustainable Development Goals
36. SDH State Department of Horticulture
37. SFD State Forest Department
38. SHG Self-Help Group
39. SKUAST Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology
40. SKUAST-K Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology for
Kashmir
41. TNAU Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
42. UNDP United Nations Development Programme

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 Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

LIST OF
FIGURES

Fig.1. Apis dorsata rock bee nest

Fig.2. Apis florea little bee nest

Fig.3. Workers of Indian honey bee Apis cerana indica

Fig.4. Apis mellifera worker bees

Fig.5. Brood of stingless bees Tetragonula iridipennis

Fig.6. Worker, drone and queen of a honey bee society

Fig.7. Honey – the golden liquid

Fig. 8. Royal jelly- Nature’s Super-food

Fig.9. Bee pollen

Fig. 10. Beeswax and comb foundation sheet made of beeswax

Fig.11. Bee venom collected using bee venom collector

Fig.12. Bee collected propolis

Fig.13. Structure of a bee hive

Fig.14. Beekeeping accessories

Fig. 15. Apiary was started at Insectary in Agricultural College, Coimbatore in 1913

Fig.16. Apis mellifera foraging litchi inflorescence in Haryana

Fig.17. A. mellifera bee hives kept for pollinating in apple orchards in Kashmir

Fig.18. Honey bees on Robinia psudoacacia trees in Kashmir region

Fig.19. [Link] kept in mustard fields of Rajasthan

Fig.20. [Link] indica beekeeping in the North East India by Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey
Mission (NBHM)

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Fig.21. Stingless bee beekeeping by Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)

Fig.22. Harvesting rock bee A. dorsata honey in North east india

Fig.23. Experimenting cucumber pollination by stingless bees in Tamil Nadu and Manipur

Fig. 24. Apis mellifera migrated to a coriander field in Tamil Nadu

Fig. 25. A. cerana indica beekeeper at an onion field in Tamil Nadu

Fig. 26. Stingless bees reared in pots and bamboo nodes in Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Fig. 27. A. cerana kept in rubber plantations, honey on sale in Kerala

Fig. 28. Floral calendar for Maharashtra State (Source: CBRTI, Pune)

Fig. 29. Floral calendar for Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state (Source, CBRTI, Pune)

Fig. 30. District wise oilseed growing map of Maharashtra (Source: CBRTI, KVIC, Pune)

Fig. 31. India - honey export and domestic consumption in last four years (MoA&FW)

Fig. 32. Honey export – volume and value (MoA&FW)

Fig. 33. Number of bee boxes and honey production in India (MoA&FW)

Fig. 34. Honey production in India over the years (MoA&FW)

Fig. 35. Honey production in various states of India during 2017-18 (MoA&FW)

Fig. 36. Honey production in 2018– World scenario (Source: FAOSTAT)

Fig. 37. Export of honey in 2018 by different countries of world (FAOSTAT)

Fig. 38. Honey import by different world countries (FAOSTAT)

Fig. 39. Per capita honey consumption (kg/ year) (FAOSTAT)

Fig. 40. Wax moth infested comb of A. cerana (Left) and Varroa infested A. mellifera (Right)

Fig. 41. Organizations currently involved in beekeeping research, development and training

Fig. 42. Proposed role of organisations for beekeeping development and research in India

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 Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

OBJECTIVES FOR CONSTITUTING

BEEKEEPING DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE BY EAC-PM

i. To improve agricultural productivity through planned pollination with honey bees

ii. To enhance employment generation and rural development through beekeeping

iii. To provide nutritional security to resource-poor Indian public and farmers by increasing
crop productivity

iv. To enhance biodiversity and environmental sustainability through honey bees

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 Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

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Tel. : 011-23096594 Government of India
Fax : 011-23096724 Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
E-mail : [Link]@[Link] NITI Aayog, Parliament Street
New Delhi - 110 001

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am happy to bring out this Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee (BDC) of
the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). EAC-PM set up the BDC under
my Chairmanship in which, among others, Shri Ratan P. Watal, Member Secretary and Shri K.
Rajeswara Rao, Advisor, EAC-PM were also the Members. The BDC consulted various stake-
holders, reviewed the status of beekeeping in India and recommended suitable measures in this
Report for improvement of beekeeping and crop pollination in India.

2. I express my sincere thanks to all the Members of the BDC and its Sub-Committees: 1 & 2
for their active participation in the deliberations and providing insight into the issues and possible
solutions for development of beekeeping in the country. My special thanks to the Conveners of the
Sub-Committees (Dr. M.R. Srinivasan, Professor of Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore and Dr. B.N.S.
Murthy, Horticulture Commissioner, DAC&FW / Dr. B.L. Sarswat, Executive Director, National
Bee Board, DAC&FW) and Dr. V.V. Ramamurthy, Retired Professor, IARI for their active role in
convening and contributing to the conduct of the meetings.

3. EAC-PM expresses its gratitude to the Beekeeping Experts, Scientists, Institutions,

Beekeepers, Beekeeping Agencies/Federations, State Governments, etc., who participated in the
meetings/deliberations and provided their valuable inputs/suggestions.

4. I am thankful to Shri Ratan P. Watal, Member Secretary, EAC-PM, who took lot of interest
and provided his invaluable suggestions in bringing out this Report. My deep appreciation and
thanks to Shri K. Rajeswara Rao, Adviser, EAC-PM for his untiring efforts in coordinating with all
concerned, bringing together the complex issues involved and preparing this Report of the BDC
with specific recommendations for development of beekeeping in the country. I acknowledge the
assistance rendered by Ms Vedanta Dhamija, who was the Young Professional in EAC-PM till 24th
August 2018. I must specially thank Dr. M.R. Srinivasan, Professor of Entomology, TNAU and the
Management of TNAU for their continuous support and assistance rendered towards finalising
this Report of the BDC.

(Dr. Bibek Debroy)

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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY

1. Beekeeping is an important activity that supplements and compliments agriculture

and provides nutritional and economic security to rural communities worldwide. Even
landless people can take up beekeeping as a profession. Beekeeping helps in generating
additional income and is an integral part of integrated farming system. In addition to the
revenue obtained from honey and other bee products, pollination activities of honey bees
are important which contribute to the increased crop yield to an extent of 20-80 per cent
in most of the cultivated crops through cross pollination. Beekeeping aids in increased
agricultural productivity, has role in employment generation, rural development and
nutritional security and is crucial in maintaining biodiversity and provides environmental
sustainability.  Thus beekeeping provides multiple advantages.
2. India is a country which inhabits four major honey bee species; two domesticated species,
viz. Apis cerana (Indian or Asian honey bee) and A. mellifera (European honey bee) and two
wild species, viz. A. dorsata (rock honey bee) and A. florea (dwarf honey bee). Beekeepers
in many of the Indian States including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Telengana, Odisha and North Eastern States, cultivate A. cerana, Indian honey bee and are
dependent on it for their livelihood. The honey obtained from A. cerana constitutes hardly
5 to 10% of total honey produced in India.
3. Among the four species, A. mellifera is an introduced species to India. A. mellifera ligustica
known as the Italian bee was introduced into India in the 20th century when the beekeeping
industry with the native bee, A. cerana was badly hit because of the outbreak of tracheal
mite, Acarapis woodi and Thai sacbrood virus during 1965-1986. Presently beekeeping
with A. mellifera is more in North India because of the rich flora viz., Mustard, Sunflower,
Eucalyptus, Safflower, etc. They produce 50 to 60 kg of honey per colony per year. About
70-75% of the honey produced in India is from A. mellifera. Placing a few hives in the
vicinity of the cropped area helps in large number of honey bees working in a society and
accomplishing crop pollination sufficient to produce seeds and fruits that man consumes in
his daily life.
4. A. dorsata, rock bee contributes to approximately 20% of the total honey produced in
India, even though there is no clear official estimate available. The quantity of honey that
is taken from little honey bees A. florea is negligible. However all the honey bee species are
important pollinators and need to be conserved.

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5. The stingless bees which are non Apis bees classified under Meliponini of family Apidae
are important pollinators of various food crops, and they can be domesticated. The honey
yield per hive per year is very low, approximately 100 to 750 g per hive per year depending
upon locations, however the honey fetches a very high price of Rs.2000 to 3000 per kg for
its medicinal value in traditional Indian medicine.

6. The best known primary products of beekeeping are honey and wax, but pollen, propolis,
royal jelly and bee venom are also marketable primary bee products. Honey is commonly
referred as golden liquid because of its unrivaled properties. Royal jelly is sold at very high
prices in international market as dry powder in capsules or as formulation with honey.
Commercial production of royal jelly is restricted to A. mellifera in India and that too by a
very few beekeepers. Bee collected pollen is the chief source of protein, lipids, amino acids,
minerals, vitamins etc. in the honey bee diet. Pollen is also considered as a complete food for
human beings. Bee pollen is sold in market for prices ranging from Rs. 2000 to 20000 per kg
depending on the crop from which it is collected by bees. There is vast scope for increasing
its production based on demand in local and international market. The bees wax is used
in several industries such as cosmetic, electric and textile industry, church candles, carbon
paper, metal castings and mouldings and shoe polish. Bee venom has a history of healing
back pain, musculoskeletal pain, and skin diseases. Quantity of bee venom produced by
worker bees vary between 100 to150 g.

7. A bee hive is a wooden box in which a honey bee colony is kept and reared for the purpose
of honey extraction and crop pollination. The bee hive is designed taking into account the
natural habitat and place of living of honey bees. It has various parts namely hive stand,
floor board, brood chamber, super chamber, brood and super frames, inner cover and outer
cover. In addition to a hive, many other beekeeping accessories and safety gears are being
used while handling honey bees.

8. In 2017-18, China ranked first in honey production with 551 thousand tonnes while India
ranked eighth among the world countries with 64.9 thousand tonnes. China ranked first in
exports with 131.6 thousand tonnes while India ranked fifth with 35.8 thousand tonnes as
per FAOSTAT. However the data available with NBB, MoA&FW indicates that the volume
of export of honey has increased from 29.6 to 51.5 thousand tonnes between 2014-15
and 2017-18. The value of honey export was about Rs.6500 crores during 2017-18. The
domestic consumption of honey has remained more or less stable around 50 thousand
tonnes during the last four years (NBB Data). The honey consumption in kg/capita/year
was highest in European nations (more than 1.0) followed by USA (0.67) and only 0.02 in
India (FAOSTAT, 2017-18).

9. Based on the area under cultivation in India and bee forage crops, India has a potential
to have about 200 million bee colonies while the current figure is about 3.4 million
colonies. Increasing the number of colonies not only increases honey production, but also
substantially boosts the productivity of agricultural and horticultural crops.

10. Migratory beekeeping provides good returns to the beekeeper as the returning bees to
the hive are maximum, because of abundant flora in that region. For doing commercial
migratory beekeeping, the beekeeper has to map the floral resources available and do
planned migration accordingly. Honey bees are affected by a large number of diseases

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caused by viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan organisms, ecto- and endo-parasitic mites, birds,
insects and higher animals. The extent of losses may vary based on severity of infection or
infestation, and may lead to decline in honey production or loss of bee colony all together.
It is essential to detect the pests and diseases at initial stages for better management.

11. In India, there are multiple ministries and departments associated with beekeeping. The
ICAR, DARE, MoA&FW, Government of India assisted by SAUs is involved in research on
beekeeping and its role in cross pollination and crop productivity increase. The NBB,
MoA&FW promotes scientific beekeeping for pollination support under MIDH, register bee
colonies / beekeepers and implementing IBDCs and other activities / programmes across
the States. The KVIC in the MoMSME, GoI considers beekeeping as a Forest based industry
and is involved in developing beekeeping mainly for honey. The FSSAI under MoH&FW
makes standards for honey and bee products and implements it. APEDA, MoC&I, GoI deals
with export of honey. Multiplicity of agencies involved in beekeeping development in India
has led to lack of convergence and duplicity of efforts. Hence the EAC-PM of GoI decided to
streamline the beekeeping activities in the nation.

12. In spite of the involvement of many agencies, the outcome is not commensurate in
achieving sweet revolution for food, nutritional and livelihood security through beekeeping.
Moreover, a recent UN report warns that globally about 40% of the insect pollinators are
facing extinction that can directly affect food production and nutritional security. Hence,
there is a need for an Apex Body like the EAC-PM to take lead in promoting and coordinating
activities involved in beekeeping industry so that “Sweet/Golden Revolution” in the country
could be achieved and crop yield can be increased leading to fulfillment of the attempt of
Government of India in doubling farmers income by 2022. In this regard, it was decided
to constitute “Beekeeping Development Committee” under the Chairmanship of Dr Bibek
Debroy, Chairman, EAC-PM. The terms of reference of the Beekeeping Development
Committee are given in Chapter 7. During its first meeting held on 6th June 2018, this
committee decided to set up two Sub-Committees. In total, eight stakeholder consultation
meetings were conducted in various locations namely Delhi, Coimbatore, Ramnagar
(Haryana), Imphal, Pune, Srinagar, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to cover different regions of
India, six of Sub-Committee: l and two of Sub-Committee: 2 were held.

13. The constraints faced by the stakeholders in beekeeping in India were listed out and
recommendations for overcoming the constraints were prepared. The following are the
crux of the recommendations.

i. Honey bees shall be recognized as an input in agriculture to ensure high level of crop
productivity and food security and prevent pollinator decline. Beekeeper shall be
considered farmer even if he is landless and government financial support meant for
farmers shall reach him. Plantation of bee friendly flora shall be done on road sides/
railway lands/ banks of rivers/ waste lands/ forest, public lands, etc and women self-
help groups shall be engaged in planting and maintaining the flora.

ii. Institutionalising NBB and rechristening it as Honey and Pollinators Board of India
(HPBI) under the MoA&FW, by establishing a full-fledged authority/agency to
synchronise the efforts of multiple agencies for overall development of apiculture
in the country. More IBDC centres shall be funded by HPBI by identifying locations

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with beekeeping potential. Existing IBDCs shall be strengthened. Scientific data on

number of beekeepers and bee colonies in India shall be recorded through registration
of beekeepers at their doorstep. The beekeepers shall be organized into effective
entities such as Beekeepers’ Federations or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
like IFFCO for managing their inputs & equipments and marketing their produce. A
honey price stabilization fund with Rs. 200 crore shall be made by the government
of India which can support farmers during uncertain price situation. Honey (and bee
products) sold in India or exported shall be traceable to a registered beekeeper or
a registered collector (in case of rock bee honey) to prevent adulteration and sale
of fake honey. Availability of standard bee hives and live bee colonies with superior
queens and disease free condition shall be ensured to farmers and beekeepers. An
independent organization or a learned society shall be engaged in the monitoring
and evaluation of projects implemented.

iii. ICAR shall upgrade its project coordinating Unit of AICRP on Honey bees and
Pollinators, New Delhi to Indian Institute of Honey Bees and Pollinators Research
(IIHBPR), New Delhi and shall continue to lead research on beekeeping. Apiculture
as a subject shall be recognized by ICAR and it shall formulate syllabus for Masters
Degree and Ph.D. degree programmes. ASRB, MoA&FW shall recognize apiculture
subject for conducting ARS and NET exams and recruit specialists in apiculture. ICAR
through its KVKs and centres in SAUs shall enhance providing periodical training to
the beekeeping trainers.

iv. The KVIC under MoMSME and KVIB under state governments shall synchronise
activities with HPBI and register beekeepers and train them. State-wise and region-
wise floral calendar shall be prepared by CBRTI and shared for the benefit of
beekeepers and scientists.

v. FSSAI shall notify standards and specifications for honey and all other hive products
produced by different honey bee species. Storage, processing and marketing
infrastructure from regional to national level for honey and other hive products to be
ensured by HBPI and FSSAI. Quality testing labs for honey and other hive products
shall be set up at regional and state-level and major beekeeping hubs.

vi. Beekeepers shall be protected from facing hardship at state borders and highways
from police and other officials during migration of bee colonies. Forest Department
shall not stop beekeepers from selling honey or beeswax produced from domesticated
hive bees for which amendment of Indian Forest Act, 1927 is recommended.

vii. APEDA, MoC&I shall help in export of honey with simplified procedures including
honey from native bee species by forming export promotion council on honey and
bee products. Honey and bee pollen shall be included in mid day meals and child
nutrition programmes, sportspersons and defense personnel considering the health
benefits of consuming honey with the support of National Institute of Nutrition,
Hyderabad.

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CHAPTER 1

BEEKEEPING AND
ITS BENEFITS

1.1 Honey bees are one of the nature’s most exciting creations that help man in more than one
ways. It provides the ever liked sweet substance - the honey. Bees produce honey from
the sugary secretions of plants (floral nectar) or from secretions of other insects (such as
honeydew), by regurgitation, enzymatic activity, and water evaporation. Bees store honey
in wax structures called honeycombs. Man understood the technique of domesticating the
bees and rearing them in hives around 200 years ago. Since then he has made innovations
in its rearing techniques. India is gifted with wide diversity of flora and fauna and is one of
the mega-biodiversity centres of the world.

1.2 Beekeeping is an important ancillary activity in agriculture which provides nutritional and
economic security to rural communities worldwide. It is not a land-based activity and even
landless people can take up beekeeping as a profession. Beekeeping helps in generating
subsidiary income and forms a component of integrated farming system. In addition to the
revenue obtained from honey and other bee products, pollination activities of honeybees
are important which contribute to the increased crop yield per given land area. This can
have double advantage, one is that honey production can be increased, the second one
which is more important than the first one is that keeping bees can increase crop yield to
an extent of 20-80 per cent in most of the cultivated crops through cross pollination.

A. ROLE OF BEEKEEPING IN AGRICULTURE

1.3 Honey bees travel from flower to flower, collecting nectar and pollen grains. The nectar thus
collected is stored in combs and later converted into honey. The bee collects the pollen by
rubbing against the anthers. The pollen collects on the hind legs, in a structure called “pollen
basket”. As the bee flies from flower to flower, some of the pollen grains are transferred onto
the stigma of other flowers. Nectar provides the energy for bee nutrition; pollen provides
the protein. When bees are rearing large quantities of brood, bees deliberately gather
pollen to meet the nutritional needs of the brood. Good pollination management seeks to
have bees in a “building” state during the bloom period of the crop, thus requiring them to
gather pollen, and making them more efficient pollinators.

1.4 Pollination is essential for the production of fruit and seed. There are many plants that
cannot produce fruit and seed if pollinated by their own pollen and so require cross

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pollination. Such plants include those in which male and female parts are either borne on
separate plants or on separate parts/flowers of the same plant. Cross-pollination is also
essential in those crops in which male and female parts are borne on the same flower but
they are physically excluded from each other.

The process of cross pollination

1.5 Honey bees, birds, bats and insects are important in pollination of most fruits and vegetables.
Over 90% of all flowering plants and over three-quarters of the crop plants rely on animals
for pollination. The crops benefited by bee pollination are: oilseeds (mustard, rape seed,
toria, lahi, safflower, sunflower, etc.), orchard crops (apple varieties, pears, plums, cherry,
strawberry, raspberry, persimmon, litchi, citrus, grapes, cucumbers, squashes, melons,
almond, peach, guava, gooseberry, mango, coconut, etc.), legumes (alfalfa, berseem and
other clovers, vetches, broad beans, dwarf beans, arhar, etc.) and vegetables (radish,
cabbage, turnip, carrot, onion, cauliflower, gourds, etc).

1.6 Seed and fruit production of cross-pollinated crops can be increased considerably in areas
where there is a dearth of natural pollinators by placing honey bee colonies in the crop
when it is in bloom. It is essential to know the pollination requirement of individual crops
and the pollinator species that is important for each situation. Conservation of native and
wild pollinators and cultivating native pollinators and utilizing them for planned pollination
holds the key for success of seed and fruit production in cross pollinated crops.

B. ROLE IN EMPLOYMENT GENERATION, RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND

NUTRITIONAL SECURITY
1.7 At present, it is estimated that around 4 lakh people in India are involved in beekeeping
who keep about 34 lakh bee colonies and produce about 90 to 95 thousand tonnes of
honey and the rest of the honey harvested from rock bee colonies. But, only less than 10
percent of the existing potential has been utilized so far. India comprises seven percent
of the world’s flora. India has a potential to keep about 200 million bee colonies that can
provide employment to over 21.5 million people. In terms of production, these bee colonies
can produce over 10 million tons of honey and about 15,000 tons of beeswax. Organized

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collection of forest honey and beeswax using improved methods can result in an additional
production of at least 120,000 tons of honey and 10,000 tons of beeswax. Thus beekeeping
fulfils many of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP). It helps to accomplish SDG-8 - ‘Decent work and economic growth’
and SDG-9- ‘Industry, innovation and infrastructure’.

1.8 Beekeeping plays an important role in rural development, by providing income from
sale of honey and other bee products, in addition to improving agricultural productivity.
Beekeeping is suitable for rural farmers in many ways. Beekeeping does not take up valuable
land that could be used for farming activities. It can be practiced by men and women of all
age groups. The vast agriculture, horticulture and forest cover of India coupled with high
level of involvement of rural population in agriculture make beekeeping an essential part
of rural development. Because of the low level of sophistication needed, the beekeeping
industry offers direct employment to lakhs of people including farmers, landless labourers,
hill dwellers and tribals. Sustainability of beekeeping is therefore vital to the country’s
economic well being and development.

1.9 Pollinator-dependent food products contribute to healthy diets and nutrition. Pollinators
affect 35 percent of global agricultural land, supporting the production of 87 of the leading
food crops worldwide. Pollination-dependent crops are five times more valuable than
those that do not need pollination. Pollinators play an essential role in helping to feed a
rising world population in a sustainable way. In this way it fulfills another UNDP-SDG, Zero
Hunger[SDG 2]. Bees and pollinators also contribute to fulfill the SDG 1, No poverty and
SDG 3, Good Health and Well being.

1.10 In the past, honey was only considered a sweetener, whereas today we know that it contains
many beneficial substances. Honey is a great source of simple carbohydrates. Nectar
itself is composed mainly of sucrose and water. Bees add enzymes that create additional
chemical compounds, inverting the sucrose into fructose and glucose, and then evaporate
the water so that the resulting product will resist spoiling. Honey contains natural minerals
and vitamins which help the metabolizing of undesirable cholesterol and fatty acid on the
organs and tissues into the system, hence preventing obesity and promoting better health
for us. The vitamins present in honey are B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and
certain amino acids. The minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium,
manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. Honey is rich in phenolic acids and
flavonoids, which are a source of natural antioxidants. Honey has a healthy glycemic index,
meaning that its sugars can be gradually absorbed into the bloodstream to result in better
digestion.

1.11 It is an excellent nutrient and calmative. Owing to its antibacterial and antioxidant
properties, it is widely used in folk medicine. Honey can be mixed into different drinks, for
example tea, milk, yoghurt or natural juices. It can be added to various baked or cooked
dishes (cakes, sauces, vegetables, meats), usually to infuse them with its special aroma.
Honey can fully replace consumer sugar in our diet.

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C. ROLE IN BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

1.12 In addition to increasing crop yield through cross pollination, honey bees also increase the
biodiversity through pollination and perpetuation of a whole lot of plants in this world,
wild or cultivated, in farm fields or forests. Thus bees and pollinators help to maintain
biodiversity and a vibrant ecosystem which is also one of the UN SDGs [SDG 15]. More than
70 % of the world plants depend on insect pollinators for seed production. Pollination
is one of the most important means in the preservation and support of biodiversity and,
in general, life on Earth. Many ecosystems, depend on pollinator diversity to maintain
overall biological diversity. Pollination also benefits society by increasing food security and
improving livelihoods. Pollinators are extremely diverse, with more than 20,000 pollinating
bee species and numerous other insect and vertebrate pollinators. Therefore pollinators
are essential for diversity in diet and for the maintenance of natural resources.

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CHAPTER 2

DIVERSITY
OF HONEY BEES

2.1 Honey bees are insects that come under the order Hymenoptera and family Apidae that
exhibit complete metamorphosis. Honey bee species are characterized by particular
functional traits that facilitate pollination services. As of now, seven species of Apis have
been described; India is an exclusive country which inhabits four of these; two domesticated
species, viz. Apis cerana (oriental honey bee) and A. mellifera (occidental or European honey
bee) and two wild species, viz. Apis dorsata (giant/rock honey bee or dumna) and A. florea
(dwarf honey bee). Among the four species, A. mellifera is an introduced species to India.
India is the place of origin of the genus Apis.

A. ROCK BEE (APIS DORSATA)

2.2 The name giant or rock bee arises
from the fact that they often
build their nests underneath
rock overhangs, such as large
cliff faces. However, it can also
be found on the tree branches
and ceilings of tall buildings
without any constraints.
The behaviour of the species
is unpredictable. They are
aggressive in nature and have
well organized mass defense Fig.1. Apis dorsata, Rock bee nest
behaviour. Slight disturbance by
the intruder provoke the activity of worker bees and mark the intruder by the odour of
specific pheromone. In India, the rock bee honey has greater economic value as this species
is a good honey gatherer. Because of the danger involved in harvesting rock bee honey, it
is generally priced high locally. Night hours is mostly preferred by the trained bee hunters
who with the help of smoke, pacify the bees and cut the comb for honey extraction. There
is general concern that the total number of A. dorsata nests all over Asia is declining, partly
due to shrinking forest areas, the use of toxic pesticides in foraging farm lands and bee
hunting. There are many forest and hilly regions in many of the Indian states where people

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hunt for rock bee honey and squeeze the combs to extract the honey. Rock bee constitutes
to approximately 20% of the total honey produced in India, even though there is no clear
official estimate available.

B. LITTLE BEE (APIS FLOREA)

2.3 Dwarf or little honey bee is also
a wild honey bee spp., found in
Asia. When compared to the rock
bees these bees are small and less
ferocious. Dwarf or little honey bee
is the smallest of Apis species both
in size of the body and the nest. A.
florea is highly migratory and shifts
its nests more frequently within 2
- 5 months. Like A. dorsata, these
bees build single vertical combs
around twigs or branches of trees
and shrubs (Mishra, 1995). A. Fig.2. Apis florea little bee nest
florea are excellent pollinators of
crops because of their smaller size that limit their flight distance and hence exploit the
flowers intensively. The honey produced by these bees is dramatically less of about half a
kilo of honey per year per hive and also priced high because of great medicinal value. The
quantity of honey that is taken from these honey bees is negligible. However they act as
good pollinators and need to be conserved.

C. INDIAN HONEY BEE

(APIS CERANA)
2.4 Indian, Eastern or Asiatic honey
bee (Apis cerana) is the native
bee species of Asia and before the
introduction of A. mellifera, this was
the only domesticated honey bee
species in India. Three sub-species
of A. Cerana are found in India: A.
cerana indica, A. cerana cerana and
A. cerana himalaya corresponding to
Fig.3. Workers of Indian honey bee, Apis cerana indica
the geographic distribution. Indian
bees construct multiple parallel combs in dark places such as hollows of trees and holes in
the rocks, clay pots, logs, wall, etc. Presently, in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu more
than 20,000 beekeepers are involved in beekeeping with Indian bees. Beekeepers in many
of the Indian States including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana,
Odisha and North Eastern States, cultivate this species of honey bee and are dependent on
it for their livelihood. The average yield of honey per hive is 7 to 10 kg per hive per year.

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D. ITALIAN HONEY BEE

(APIS MELLIFERA)
2.5 The Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera
ligustica­) is one of the subspecies of
A. mellifera, the European bee. This
species of honey bee is native to
Africa, most of Europe and the Middle
East. Italian bee was introduced
into India in the 20th century when
the beekeeping industry with the
native bee, A. cerana was badly hit
Fig.4. Apis mellifera worker bees
because of the outbreak of tracheal
mite, Acarapis woodi and Thai sacbrood virus during 1965-1986 (Abrol, 2004). Presently
beekeeping with A. mellifera is more in North India because of the rich flora viz., safflower,
mustard, sun flower but in South India it is hardly practiced since rice is the major crop in
south India, these bees don’t get enough amount of food they need. The habits are similar to
Indian bees, construct parallel combs in dark places and honey is stored at the top portion
of the colony. They are bigger than all other honey bees except A. dorsata. The average
production capacity of this species depends on availability of flora and climatic conditions.
In normal conditions, on an average, production of 50 to 60 kg per hive per year can be
obtained from this species.

E. STINGLESS BEE
(TETRAGONULA
IRIDIPENNIS)
2.6 Stingless or dammer
bees are of smallest
size compared to
other honey-yielding
bees (less than 5mm).
They belong to the
family Apidae and sub
family Meliponinae.
These bees are widely
Fig.5. Brood of stingless bees Tetragonula iridipennis
known as dammar
bees in India, (dammar is resin from dipterocarp trees) with additional local names
commonly applied, e.g., “putka” in Sikkim and Nepal, “ngapsiwor”, “ngaphamang”, and
“ngapkhyndew” in Khasi language, “cherutheneecha” and “arakki” in Kerala.

2.7 As the name implies these bees cannot sting as their stingers are highly reduced, but they
try to defend their colony from intruders by using their mandibles. The stingless bees have
the importance in the pollination of various food crops and they can be domesticated. The
honey yield per hive per year is very low, approximately 100 g, however the honey fetches
a very high price of Rs. 2000 to 3000 per kg for its medicinal value in traditional Indian

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medicine. As in other regions where stingless bees occur, colonies have been kept in tree
logs, wooden boxes, and clay pots for harvesting small quantities of highly prized medicinal
honey, and also for the wax and propolis, produced and gathered by the bees and used for
its household and curative properties. The materials used for nest building are mainly pure
wax or cerumen; A mixture of wax and propolis, resins, plant fibres, and clay.

F. SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
OF BEES
2.8 One of the most superior
characters which honey bees
exhibit is eusociality in which
they live in colonies with a highly
organized system of division of
labour, take care of their young
ones with cooperative brood care
and have other advanced ways of Fig.6. Worker, drone and queen of a honey bee society
communications and defensive
mechanisms. There are three castes: queen, workers and drones. In a normal colony there
is one queen, 10,000 to 30,000 workers and a few hundred drones. In A. mellifera colony the
number of workers before honey flow may go to 60,000 - 70,000. The queen is a functional
fertile female that produces males and females, the worker is an unfertilized female capable
of only producing males (due to the haplodiploid sex determination system found in honey
bees) and the drone is male.

2.9 Owing to the high number of worker honey bees in each hive that engage in foraging of
crop plants thus aiding in cross pollination, honey bees are highly suitable for managed
pollination than any other species of insect or animal. Placing a few hives in the vicinity of the
cropped area helps in large number of honey bees working in a society and accomplishing
crop pollination sufficient to produce seeds and fruits that man consumes in his daily life.

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CHAPTER 3

BEE PRODUCTS

3.1 Honey bees provide a wide range of benefits to humans from honey, other bee products,
pollination of food crops and ecological services. Beekeeping is practiced around the world,
and can provide a valuable source of income to people in developing regions with relatively
little investment.

3.2 The best known primary products of beekeeping are honey and wax, but pollen, propolis,
royal jelly and bee venom are also marketable primary bee products. There are additional
uses where bee products are an ingredient of another product. Due to the quality and
sometimes almost mystical reputation and characteristics of bee products, the addition to
other products usually enhances the perceived value or quality of these secondary products.
This can increase the profitability of many beekeeping operations.

A. HONEY
3.3 Honey is commonly referred as
golden liquid because of its unrivaled
properties along with colour
resemblance.   Honey is composed
primarily of fructose and glucose but
also contains fructo-oligosaccharides
and many amino acids, vitamins,
minerals and enzymes. Composition of
honey varies based on the nectar it was
made. Fig.7. Honey – the golden liquid
3.4 Decapping of the sealed wax layer of honey combs is done using a sharp, thin and long
knife or decapping knife. Extracting the honey from honey combs is done with the help
of honey extractor (works on the principle of centrifugal force) in the case of Indian and
Italian bees and squeezing of honey combs in the case of rock bees, little bees and stingless
bees. Processing of honey is done to prevent granulation and fermentation. In India, most of
the apiaries, process the honey by traditional method of indirect heating in which a vessel
containing honey is heated by placing it in another vessel containing hot water, so that
the honey gets its required heat from the hot water. The yeast cells present in honey are

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killed while heating / processing making honey less susceptible to ferment. For large scale
processing of honey, honey processing units are used.

B. ROYAL JELLY
3.5 Royal jelly is a secretion of hypophrangeal glands
and mandibular glands of nurse bees in a ratio of 1:1.
Royal jelly plays a vital role in caste differentiation
of honey bees. Queen bee is fed with this nutritious
royal jelly throughout its life time, while the drone
and worker bees are fed for short time (2/3 days in
their immature stages). As a result of the complex Fig. [Link] jelly- Nature’s Super-food
composition of royal jelly (lipids, proteins, mineral
salts, vitamins, enzymes, oligo-elements and natural antibiotics), it is also said to have
specific vital factors that act as biocatalysts in cell regeneration processes within the human
body.

3.6 Production of royal jelly is related to rearing of queen bees and so the technology for royal
jelly production is similar to that for mass queen rearing. It is because the queen larvae can’t
consume the royal jelly at a rate at which it is supplied to them and there is always surplus
of it surrounding the larvae which can be extracted at the cost of the queen larvae. Royal
jelly has a low shelf life and so it must be kept in refrigerator (0oC to 5oC). Since royal jelly is
an emulsified product and not cellular tissue, freezing presents no particular problem and
common household freezers can be used. It can be kept in a freezer for about 6 months.

3.7 Royal jelly is sold at very high prices in international market as dry powder in capsules or
as formulation with honey. Commercial production of royal jelly is restricted to [Link]
in India and that too by a very few beekeepers. Lack of awareness about the demand for the
products and its production technologies are the reasons for its low production in India.

C. POLLEN
3.8 Pollen collected by honey bee and carried back to the
hive is called bee pollen. Bee pollen is the chief source of
protein, lipids, amino acids, minerals, vitamins etc. in the
honey bee diet. Pollen is also considered as a complete
food for human beings. It is used in apitherapeutic
treatments as it is said to have properties such as
antifungal, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory,
immune stimulating, and local analgesic and also
facilitates the burn wound healing.
Fig.9. Bee pollen
3.9 Pollen is carried back to the hive on the third pair of legs
of the honey bee, which are specially modified for this purpose. Only a tiny amount can
be carried back to the colony at each trip (around 10 mgs per load) and bees in a hive
need about 20 kilograms for their annual development. It is clear that this constitutes
a remarkable feat of social co-ordination by the bees - in fact this takes 2 million pollen

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collecting trips for the colony every year. Pollen is mixed with enzymes and nectar in a way
that allows it to be stored by the bees for a considerable time.

3.10 Pollen is collected by placing the pollen traps at hive entrance at which the pollen packed
in the hind leg corbicula of the returning bees will get discharged. Pollen trap designing is
a crucial factor for the welfare of the colony. It should also not stress the colony by trapping
too much of pollen or else it will lead to reduced brood rearing and honey production. A
trap that removes 50-60% incoming pollen during nectar flow is ideal and can be kept in
place for the year round with little adverse effect on the colony.

3.11 Bee pollen is sold in market for prices ranging from Rs. 2000 to 20000 per kg depending on
the crop from which it is collected by bees. There is vast scope for increasing its production
based on demand in local and international market.

D. BEESWAX
3.12 Bees produce wax from the wax secreting glands and they use this wax for construction
of comb, in which their immature stages live and they also store pollen and honey in the
hexagonal cells of the comb which is made up of beeswax. Pure fresh form of beeswax is
white in color but later turns into yellow as a result of the presence of pollen and other
substances. And so brown or yellow coloured beeswax is available in the market. Wax is
secreted by 14-18 days old worker bees. And to produce one part of wax, bees has to consume
about 4-7 times as much honey. Beeswax has resistance to the action of acids and is also
insoluble in water and cold alcohol. But wax can be dissolved partially in boiling alcohol,
and completely in chloroform, in carbon disulfide, and in the essence of hot turpentine.

3.13 The beeswax is used in several industries such as cosmetic, electric and textile industry,
church candles, carbon paper, metal castings and mouldings and shoe polish. Apart from
these, it can also be used in beekeeping industry for preparation of comb foundation sheet.
Beeswax is also used in food processing industry for coating metal containers internally
against the effects of acids from fruit juices and honey.

Fig. [Link] and comb foundation sheet made of beeswax

3.14 Beeswax is the bee product that is produced in large quantities next to honey in India. The
market price of beeswax is Rs.400 to 700 per kg.

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E. BEE VENOM
3.15 Bee venom is injected by honey bees using their
sting to defend themselves from the intruders.
Bee venom has a history of healing back pain,
musculoskeletal pain, and skin diseases. Quantity
of bee venom produced by worker bees vary
between 100 to150g. Bee venom is collected by
making bees at hive entrance to come in contact
with metal strings connected to direct current of
Fig.11. Bee venom collected using bee
low voltage and giving mild shock so that the bees
venom collector
sting and release venom that can be collected on
glass plate placed under the strings.

E. PROPOLIS
3.16. The word propolis has Greek origin,
‘pro’ meaning ‘in defense of’ and ‘polis’
meaning ‘city’, i.e. defense of beehives.
It is produced by Italian and stingless
bees and not seen in Indian bee, rock
bee and little bee. Honey bees use
propolis for sealing the cracks and
crevices and unwanted holes in the
hive; for spreading around the hive
entrance as repellent to the intruders
like ants. It is collected by bees from
tree resins, flower-buds, and other Fig.12. Bee collected propolis
vegetal tissues. At the time of collection,
bees mix their wax and collected resins to make propolis.

3.17 Propolis has different compounds such as esters, fatty acids, carbohydrates terpenoids,
vitamins, and inorganic substances and has numerous therapeutic properties, such
as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, healing, anesthetic, anticariogenic, antifungal,
antiprotozoan and antiviral activities. It can be collected by scrapping off the hive parts or
by using the propolizing plastic screens, which are placed on the top bars of the hive.

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CHAPTER 4

BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENTS

A. BEEHIVES
4.1 A beehive is a wooden box in which a honey bee colony is kept and reared for the purpose
of honey extraction and crop pollination. The beehive is designed taking into account the
natural habitat and place of living of honey bees. It has various parts namely hive stand,
floor board, brood chamber, super chamber, inner cover and outer cover or top cover.

Fig.13. Structure of a beehive

4.2 The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has prescribed two types of beehives namely Type
‘A’ and ‘B’ for the Indian honey bee (Apis cerana). After introduction and successful rearing
of A. mellifera, type ‘C’ beehive was designated for this species of bee and standards were
prescribed. The variation in type of beehive for A. cerana is to accommodate bees that vary
in their size and requirement between south and north India.

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B. OTHER BEEKEEPING ACCESSORIES

4.3 Decapping knife to remove wax covering of combs before honey extraction, hive tool
to separate the frames that get stuck due to propolis, bee brush to brush off bees from
honeycombs before it is used for honey extraction, dummy division board that serves as a
movable wall and helps to reduce the size of the brood chamber, feeders for feeding sugar
syrup to bees, comb foundation sheet made of beeswax that serve as base for building
combs, pollen traps that collect pollen pellets by scraping them from the legs of the returning
foragers and honey extractor, usually a metal drum with a centrifugally rotating device, for
the extraction of honey from the frames are the important accessories used in rearing of the
honey bees.

4.4 Safety equipment against bee stings that a beekeeper wears during hive inspection include
smoker for pacifying bees, bee veil worn over the face, gloves that protect fingers, overalls
made of thick cloth that protect the whole body from bee stings and the high boot that
protect legs from bee stings and also from other poisonous creatures in the garden.

Fig.14. Beekeeping accessories

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CHAPTER 5

STATUS OF
BEEKEEPING IN INDIA

A. HISTORY OF BEEKEEPING
5.1 In India, different species of honey bees (described in chapter 2 of this report) are being
reared in different locations. The practice of keeping bees in India dates back to ancient
times when people hunted honey from feral colonies of the rock bee (A. dorsata Fab.), the
little bee (A. florea Fab.) and the Indian hive bee (A. cerana indica Fab.) (Kishan Tej et al.,
2017). The Indian hive bee was a domesticated species but was kept in wooden logs or
walls until the end of 19th Century. After the discovery of movable frames, this design and
technique were adopted for Indian hive bee from the western countries.

5.2 In south India, Rev. Father Newton in 1909 studied the frame size suited to combs of the
A. cerana indica Indian bee, designed a hive for Indian hive bees, a cheap honey extractor,
set up apiaries in Tamil Nadu (Fig. 15) and also introduced beekeeping to many parts of
South India. He maintained the Indian honey bees in hives successfully and trained several
beekeepers during 1911-17 in Kanyakumari district in the extreme south. This smaller
hive named, as ‘Newton hive’ is in common use even today for beekeeping in plains. This
got popularized particularly in the south and central India (Shinde and Phadke, 1995).
Travancore state took up the work of beekeeping in 1917, Mysore in 1925, in Kashmir it
began around 1927, in Punjab in 1933 and in Uttar Pradesh in 1938. Today, the Indian bee,
A. cerana is reared to a greater extent in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Telengana, Odisha and North Eastern States and to lesser extent in Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh. In north India, the Indian bee is bigger in size and darker and is usually called the
A. cerana cerana, while in south the bee is yellowish and smaller and is called A. cerana
indica. In other states, the introduced bee, A. mellifera is being reared.

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Fig. 15. Apiary was started at Insectary in Agricultural College, Coimbatore in 1913

5.3 The scientists and beekeepers of India lured by the high honey yield and other good attributes
of the exotic honey bee, A. mellifera Linn. introduced this species into India. Several attempts
were made to introduce and establish A. mellifera into various parts of the country from
1920s to 1950s. Successful introduction and establishment of A. mellifera was achieved in
the erstwhile Punjab in 1962, through “Interspecific Queen Introduction Technique” and
later on through the import of disease-free nuclei (Atwal and Sharma, 1968, 1970). The
stocks of A. mellifera existing in the country at present are the progeny of the import of
queens and disease free nuclei of exotic honey bee imported into India from 1962-1966.
Currently A. mellifera is reared in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and other north Indian states to greater extent (Partap and
Verma(2000)). In central India, this bee is reared in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and West Bengal. Recently, [Link] beekeeping has picked up in Andhra
Pradesh, Telengana and Tamil Nadu also in some pockets where more flora is available.

B. MIGRATORY BEEKEEPING
5.4. Migratory beekeeping provides good returns to the beekeeper as the returning bees to
the hive are maximum, because of abundant flora in that region. For doing commercial
migratory beekeeping, the beekeeper has to map the floral resources available and do
planned migration accordingly (Fig. 16). In northern India, commercial beekeepers shift
the colonies between plains and hills for migratory beekeeping. During October-November,
colonies are migrated to the plains of Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and
Rajasthan to exploit rapeseed and mustard. During December–January, colonies are migrated
to eucalyptus plantation of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Bee colonies are also migrated to
litchi orchards at Ram nagar and Dehradun from February to March, to sunflower fields of
Punjab and Haryana and to forest plantations of Uttar Pradesh for Shisham flowers (Indian
Rosewood) till May.

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[Link] mellifera foraging litchi inflorescence in Haryana

Fig.17. A. mellifera bee hives kept for pollinating in apple orchards in Kashmir

Fig.18. Honey bees on Robinia psudoacacia trees in Kashmir region

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Fig.19. A. mellifera kept in mustard fields of Rajasthan

Fig.20. A. cerana indica beekeeping in the North East India

by Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)

Fig.21. Stingless bee beekeeping by Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)

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Fig.22. Harvesting rock bee A. dorsata honey in North east india

Fig.23. Experimenting cucumber pollination by stingless bees in Tamil Nadu and Manipur

Fig. 24. A. mellifera migrated to a coriander field in Tamil Nadu

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Fig. 25. A. cerana indica beekeeper at an onion field in Tamil Nadu

Fig. 26. Stingless bees reared in pots and bamboo nodes in Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Fig. [Link] kept in rubber plantations, honey on sale in Kerala

5.6 In southern India, migration of bee colonies from southern Tamil Nadu (mainly Marthandam
of Kanyakumari District) to Kerala during January-March is a renowned practice. The
commercial beekeepers migrate the colonies to rubber plantations which are spread over
about 0.40 million hectares. During that period, beekeepers harvest tons of honey and
store to sell when they get better price. Rubber is considered as the third major source of
honey next to rapeseed/mustard and sunflower in India. Beekeepers from Kerala and Tamil
Nadu migrate their colonies mainly to Quilon, Kottayam, Changanacherry, Trichur, Palghat,
Kozhikode and Cannanore districts for rubber–honey flow. In Tamil Nadu, during May-June,

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beekeepers migrate the colonies for harvesting nectar from tamarind flowers. Colonies
are also migrated to high ranges of Devikulam, Peermedu, Idukki and other districts to
cardamom estates.

C. FLORAL CALENDAR PREPARATION

Fig. [Link] calendar for Maharashtra State (Source: CBRTI, Pune)

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Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
District P N P N P N P N P N P N P N P N P N P N P N P N
AHMEDNAGAR
Cajanus cajan (तुवर) 1 1 1 1

Carthamus tinctorious (कुसुम) 1 1 1 1

Cicer arietinum (चना) 1 1 1 1

Citrus aurantifolia (काग्जी �नंब)ू 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

Citrus reticulata (संत्रा) 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

Citrus sinensis (मोसंबी) 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

Cocos nucifera (ना�रयल) 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1

Elusina coracana (रागी) 1 0 1 0

Emblica officinalis (आवला) 2 1 2 1

Eucalyptus spp. (�नल�गर�) 2 2 2 2

Guizotia abyssinica (रामतील) 2 2 2 2

Helianthus annuus (सुयर्फुल) 2 2 2 2 2 2

Moringa oleifera (शेवगा) 2 2 2 2

Musa paradisica (केला) 1 1 1 1

Oryza sativa (चावल) 1 0 1 0

Pennesetum typhoides (बाजरा) 1 0 1 0

Phoenix sylvestris (�शंद�) 2 0 2 0

Pongamia pinnata (करंज) 2 2 2 2

Psidium guvajava (अमरूद) 2 1 2 1

Pulses (कडधान्य) 1 1 1 1

Sesamum indicum (तील) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Sorghum vulgare (ज्वार) 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1

Syzygium cumini (जामून) 2 2 2 2

Tamarindus indica (इमल�) 1 2 1 2

Vigna mungo (मुंग) 1 1 1 1

Vigna radiata (उड्द) 1 1 1 1

Vitis vinifera (अंगूर) 1 2 1 2

Zea mays (मकई) 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0

Ziziphus spp. (बेर) 1 2 1 2

Major Pollen 2 Minor Pollen 1 Minor Nector 1 Major Nector 2

Fig. [Link] calendar for Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state (Source, CBRTI, Pune)

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Fig. 30. District wise oilseed growing map of Maharashtra (Source: CBRTI, KVIC, Pune)

STATE WISE FLORAL CALENDAR OF INDIA ( SOURCE, KVIC, 2018)

Migration places Period Honey crop for harvest

Jammu & Kashmir
Higher hills Mar-Apr Robinia psudoacacia
Isodon rugosus, Brassica campestris,
Lower hills Oct-Mar
Wendlandia & Toon
Himachal Pradesh
Aug-Oct Isodon rugosus, Guizota abyssinica
Solan, Kangra, Una, Jan –Feb Brassica campestris [Link], Prunus,
Mar-May Wendlandia & Acacia
Haryana
Hisar, Ambala, Hansi, Oct-Dec
Brassica campestris [Link], eucalyptus,
Kurukshetra, Pehwa, Kaithal
Nov–May litchi, berseem, sunflower
Bhiwari, Karnal
Punjab

Gurudaspur, Hoshiarpur, Feb– Mar Eucalyptus

Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Apr-June Litchi, citrus, prunus, berseem, sunflower
Bathinda Oct-Nov Brassica campestris [Link]

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Rajasthan
Ganganagar, Sanghria,
Brassica campestris var. sarson and
Padampur, Bharatpur, Karanpur, Oct-Dec
[Link]
Alwar
Madhhya Pradesh
Brassica campestris var. sarson and
Nov –Feb
B. juncea
Gwalior, Morena, Guna, Morena
Mar-Apr Brassica and coriander
Apr-May Berseem, citrus
Uttaranchal
Oct-Dec Brassica campestris
Gangetic plains
Thanda forest Jan-Feb Eucalyptus
Ramnagar, Dehradun, Mar-Apr Litchi, shishum
Roorkee
May-Jun Berseem, sunflower
Uttar Pradesh
Aug-Oct Maize, tur, Brassica campestris,
Aligarh, Agra, Mathura, Oct-Dec Brassica campestris
Saharanpur, Gorakpur Feb-Mar Brassica, eucalyptus, shishum
Dec-Mar Brassica, eucalyptus, coriander
Bihar
Feb-Mar Drumstic, khesari
Bhagalpur, Champaram, Mar-Apr Litchi
Muzafarpur, Mehsi, Madhubani,
March, Jamun
North Bihar, Purnia, Begusari,
Bhagalpur May-Jun Sunflower
Nov-Feb Brassica, coriander, khesari
Jharkhand
Apr– Jun Karanj
Gumla, Ranchi, NetrahatGhati
Sept-Oct Brassica, niger
West Bengal
Apr-May Mangroves
March Litchi
Sunderbans, Nodia, Hooghly,
Nov-Feb Mustard, coriander
Midinapur, Midinapur
Jan-Mar Coriander, kalajeera, litchi
Oct-Jan Eucalyptus

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Orissa
Niger, eucalyptus, bombax, coffee, jamun,
Koraput, Jayapur, Malkanagiri Oct-May
herda, amla
Maharashtra
Solapur, Ahamad Nagar, Latur, Oct-Dec Tur, sunflower, sorghum
Nanded, Barshi Western Ghats
and foot-hills, Amaravathi, May Jamun, herda, gela
Nagpur, Chandrapur
Andhra Pradesh
Sesamum, cucurbits, mustard, pulses,
Guntur, Karnool, Cuddapha Jun-Jul
citrus
Sept-Nov Sunflower
Karnataka
Sept-Dec Tur, sunflower

Bidar, Bijapur, Sulia, March Rubber

Bagamandla, Bangalore, Nandi Apr-May Coffee, Schefflora, Lagerstroemia
hills Oct-Dec Eucalyptus
Feb-Apr Rubber
Kerala
Kottayam Feb-Apr Rubber
Tamilnadu
Feb-Apr Rubber, coffee
Kanyakumari, Madurai, Salem,
Sept-Jan Sunflower
Erode
May-Jun Tamarind
Source: (KVIC, 2018)

It is essential to prepare floral calendars of different districts and states of India and also regularly
update them. Such floral calendars are available with CBRTI, Pune of KVIC. These floral calendars
will be highly useful in planning migratory routes during migratory beekeeping which is essential
for honey production as well as crop pollination. Annex 1 has flora calendars of different districts
of Maharashtra state. Annex 2 has district maps of Maharashtra state showing major cereal,
oilseed and pulse growing areas.

D. HONEY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND EXPORT

I. INDIAN SCENARIO

5.7 India’s arable land area of 159.7 million hectares is the second largest in the world. Based
on the area under cultivation in India and bee forage crops, India has a potential to have
about 200 million bee colonies while the current figure is about thirty four lakh colonies.
The country has the prospective to increase honey production many folds from today’s

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(2017-18) figure of 105.0 thousand tonnes (Fig.31). (However, the data available with FAO
shows a production of 64.9 thousand tonnes in India during 2017. This discrepancy needs
to be scientifically verified). Increasing the number of colonies not only increases honey
production, but also substantially boosts the productivity of agricultural and horticultural
crops. Hence there is vast scope for increasing the number of bee colonies and development
of beekeeping industry in the country.

120.0
Volume of Honey in '000 tonnes

100.0

80.0
53.9
51.1 49.6
60.0 51.7
Domestic
40.0
consumption
20.0 29.6 38.2 45.1 51.5 Export
0.0

2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18

Year

Fig. 31. India honey export and domestic consumption in last four years
(Source: NBB, MoA&FW)

55.0 7500.0
51.5
50.0 7058.7 7000.0
Honey export ('000 tonnes)

45.1
6535.8
Value in Rs. Crores

45.0 6500.0

40.0 38.2 6000.0 Volume of export

35.0 5577.9 5500.0

5351.0 Value
29.6
30.0 5000.0

25.0 4500.0
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Year

Fig. 32. Honey Export – volume and value (Source: NBB, MoA&FW)

5.8 The volume of export of honey has increased from 29.6 to 51.5 thousand tonnes
between 2014-15 and 2017-18 (Fig. 31). The value of export of honey has not increased
proportionately probably due to fluctuating global price of honey. The value of honey export
was about Rs.6500 crores during 2017-18 (Fig. 32). The domestic consumption of honey
has remained more or less stable around 50 thousand tonnes during the last four years (Fig.
31).

5.9 The number of bee colonies maintained by beekeepers in India is on the rise. It was 22
lakh in 2015 and has increased to about 34 lakhs in 2018 (Fig. 33). Out of this A. cerana

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is estimated to account for about 5 lakh bee colonies and A. mellifera the rest. Honey
production has also increased correspondingly in India during this period from 80 to 105
thousand tonnes.

36 110

34

Honey Production '000 tonnes

105
No. of bee hives (in lakhs)

32
100
Honey
30 production
95
28
90 No. of bee
26 hives
85
24
22 80

20 75
2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Year

Fig. 33. Number of bee hives and honey production in India

Honey production in 000' MT

120.0
115.0
100.0 105.0
Thousand tonnes

94.5
88.9
80.0 80.5
72.3 76.2
62.0 65.0 65.0 68.0 70.5
60.0 51.0

40.0
20.0
0.0

Year

Fig. 34. Honey production in India over the years (NBB,MoA&FW, 2018)

5.10 When we look at the honey production in India in the last twelve years, we can see a gradual
increase in production from 51 thousand tonnes to 115 thousand tonnes (2018-19 value
is a projected one) (Fig. 34). This increase could be because of the efforts taken by the
government to adopt scientific ways of honey production in India. The honey production
data in India is collected by the NBB based on estimates obtained from leading beekeepers
in various states which is pooled and expressed. There is no mechanism to find out if
adulterated or fake honey was also included in the estimate. However a better way of
estimating honey production would be to find out the number of beekeepers, number of
managed bee hives and colonies, number of wild honey bee hives, estimate of feral colonies
of domesticated hive bees, actual honey extracted etc. which will help to get a more accurate
estimate of honey production in India.

5.11 Among the different states of India, the maximum honey production is from four states
namely Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab and Bihar which account for more than 50%
of total honey production in India (Fig. 35). Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana also

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produce considerable quantities of honey. These states derive the honey mostly from A.
mellifera colonies while part of its honey comes from the wild bees or rock bees A. dorsata
particularly in Sundarbans of West Bengal. The Southern states account for about 25 % of
the honey produced in India that is obtained from the Indian bees, A. cerana and the rock
bees A. dorsata.

Statewise Honey Production in India (2017-18) in tonnes

Tamil Nadu, 1900

Karnataka, 2100 Others, 11550
J&K , 2100
Uttar Pradesh, 18900
MP, 2250
Uttarakhand, 2700
Kerala , 3000

Haryana, 4500 West Bengal, 16500

Himachal
Pradesh, 5500
Punjab, 15500

Rajasthan, 8500
Bihar, 10000

Fig. 35. Honey Production in various states of India during 2017-18

(Source: National Bee Board, MoA&FW, GoI)
II. WORLD SCENARIO

5.12 In 2017-18, China ranked first in honey production with 551 thousand tonnes while India
ranked eighth among the world countries with 64.9 thousand tonnes (FAOSTAT, 2018) (Fig
36). As per 2016-17 data of FAO, China ranked first in exports with 131.6 thousand tonnes
while India ranked fifth with 35.8 thousand tonnes (Fig 37). (However the honey production
and export data pertaining to India taken from FAOSTAT varies from the data available with
NBB, MoA&FW. With respect to the values given in this document, world figures have been
taken from FAOSTAT and Indian figures have been taken from NBB.) USA, Germany, Japan,
United Kingdom and France were the top honey importers of the world with USA importing
167 thousand tonnes (Fig 38). The honey consumption in kg/capita/year was highest in
New Zealand (2.02) followed by Slovenia (1.61), Greece (1.55), Switzerland (1.41), Austria
(1.32), Canada (0.79), USA (0.67), UK (0.66) and only 0.02 in India much lower than the
world average consumption on 0.36 kg/capita/year (Fig 39.)

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600 551.4

500

400

1000 tonnes
300

200
114.5
100 76.4 69.7
67 66.2 65.7 64.9
0 51.1 50

Country

Honey Production (1000 tonnes)

Fig. 36. Honey Production in 2017-18– World scenario (Source: FAOSTAT)

Belgium 20.8

Germany 23.8

Brazil 24.2

Spain 27.4

Mexico 29.1
Country

India 35.8

Viet Nam 42.3

Ukraine 48.6

Argentina 81.2

China 131.6

Honey export (1000 tonnes)

Fig. 37. Export of honey in 2016-17 by different countries of world (FAOSTAT)

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China 15.9

Italy 22.6

Poland 24.4

Belgium 26.5
Country Spain 28

France 35.6

UK 40
Japan 48.4
Germany 83.9
USA
166.5
0
50
100
150
200

Honey import (1000 tonnes)

Fig. 38. Honey import by different world countries2016-17 (FAOSTAT)

India 0.02
UK 0.66
USA 0.67
Canada 0.79
Germany 1.04
Country

Ukraine 1.15
Turkey 1.22
Austria 1.32
Switzerland 1.41
Greece 1.55
Slovenia 1.61
New Zealand 2.02
Annual per capita honey consumption (kg)

Fig 39. Per capita honey consumption 2013 (kg/ year) (FAOSTAT)

E. PESTS AND DISEASES ATTACKING HONEY BEES

5.13 Honey bees are affected by a large number of diseases caused by viral, bacterial, fungal,
protozoan organisms, ecto- and endo-parasitic mites, birds, insects and higher animals.
Major insect enemies of bees are wax moths, ants and hive beetles. Among diseases, the
European foul brood is a major bacterial disease infecting A. mellifera while Sacbrood virus
(SBV) is a major viral disease affecting A. cerana. Both the honey bee species are infested
by Varroa mites while A. mellifera is specifically infested by brood mite Tropilaelaps clariae.
Wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Fig. 40) is a major problem in A. cerana. The extent of losses
may vary based on severity of infection or infestation, and may lead to decline in honey
production or loss of bee colony all together. It is essential to detect the pests and diseases
at initial stages for better management.

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Fig. [Link] moth infested comb of A. cerana (Left) and Varroa infested A. mellifera (Right)

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CHAPTER 6

MULTIPLE AGENCIES DEALING

WITH BEEKEEPING IN INDIA

Fig. 41. Organizations currently involved

in Beekeeping Research, Development and Training in India

6.1 In India, there are multiple ministries and departments associated with beekeeping. The
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Dept of Agrl. Research and Education

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(DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India

assisted by State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) is involved in research on beekeeping and
its role in cross pollination and crop productivity increase (Fig. 41). The Khadi and Village
Industries Commission (KVIC) in the Ministry of MSME, GoI considers beekeeping as a Forest
based industry and is involved in developing beekeeping mainly for honey. The National
Bee Board (NBB) and National Horticultural Mission (NHM) of Department of Agriculture
Cooperation (DAC), MoA&FW, GoI with the objectives of pollination support and livelihood
Improvement of farmers financially supports Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres
(IBDCs) in State Agricultural Universities and Private beekeeping industry. The Food Safety
Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare makes
standards for honey and bee products and implements it. Agricultural & Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt.
of India deals with export of honey. NABARD through its Farm Sector Development Funds
(FSDF), supports beekeeping by providing funds through State Governments and NGOs.
Multiplicity of agencies involved in beekeeping development in India has led to lack of
convergence and duplicity of efforts. Hence, the EAC-PM of GoI decided to streamline.

A. ICAR-AICRP ON HONEY BEES AND POLLINATORS

6.2 Based on the recommendations of National Commission on Agriculture, 1976 a project
entitled “All India Coordinated Research Project on Honeybee Research & Training”, was
launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 1980-81. The centers of the
AICRP Project started functioning at different locations functioning under the then Central
Bee Research Institute (CBRI), Pune (which is presently redesignated as Central Bee
Research & Training Institute -CBRTI). Realizing the role of honey bees as pollinators and
their role in increasing crop productivity, the project was upgraded to All India Coordinated
Research Project on Honey bees and Pollinators in July, 2007.

6.3 The overall mandate of AICRP-HB&P is as follows

1. To assess pollinator diversity in different crop ecosystems

2. To quantify the role of specific pollinators in enhancing productivity in different

crops/ cropping systems

3. To conserve and manage pollinators.

4. To takeup capacity building and HRD.

6.4 The following are the sub-centres of the AICRP on Honey bees and Pollinators located in
various SAUs and ICAR centres in different parts of India.

[Link] Regular centres State

1. Dr.Y.S.P. University of Horticulture & Forestry Solan, HP
2. Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana , Punjab
3. Orissa University of Agriculture &Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha

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4. Assam Agricultural University Jorhat, Assam

5. ANGRAU, Agricultural Research Station Vijayarai, Andra Pradesh
6. Rajendra Agricultural University Pusa, Samastipur
7. CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar, Haryana
8. Kerala Agricultural University Vellayani, Kerala
9. G.B. Pant University of Agril & Technology Pantanagar, Uttrakhand
10 SASRD, Nagaland University Medziphema, Nagaland
11 Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya Raipur, Chhattisgarh
12 University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore, Karnataka
13 N. D. University of Agriculture & Technology Faizabad, UP
14 Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Jammu (J&K)
Technology
15 Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Kota, Rajasthan
Technology
16 Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Kashmir (J&K)
Technology
17 Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya Nagrota Bagwan, HP
18 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore, TN
Voluntary Cooperating Centres
19 Bidan Chandra Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya Nadia, West Bengal
20 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nimpith Ashram Nimpith, West Bengal
21 Directorate of Rapeseed and Mustard Bharathpur, Rajasthan
22 National Research Centre on Litchi Muzzafarpur, Bihar
23 University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, Karnataka
24 Navasari Agricultural University Navasari, Gujarat
25 Mahatma Phule Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya Rahuri, Maharashtra
26 Central Agricultural University Imphal, Manipur

B. NATIONAL BEE BOARD

6.5 The Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India launched a Central Sector Scheme titled
‘Development of Beekeeping for Improving Crop Productivity’ during the VIII plan (1994-
95). The Department of Agriculture Cooperation (DAC) facilitated formation of the National
Bee Board as a Registered Society under Societies Registration Act in July, 2000 and was
promoted by the Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC). In May 2005, beekeeping
has been included as a supplemental activity under National Horticulture Mission (NHM)

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for promoting cross pollination of horticultural Crops.

6.6 The National Bee Board (NBB) was reconstituted in June, 2006 including private sector.
The main objective of the National Bee Board (NBB) is overall development of beekeeping
by promoting scientific beekeeping in India to increase the productivity of crops through
pollination and increase the honey production for increasing the income of the beekeepers/
farmers.

6.7 Objectives of NBB:

• Overall development of scientific beekeeping in India by popularizing state of the

art technologies through the governmental schemes of National Horticulture Mission
and Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States in the country.

• Development of nucleus stock production, capacity building programmes and training

of bee breeders and beekeepers, processing, research work, etc. and conducting of
seminars.

• Dissemination of information on technological advancement in the field of beekeeping

through its various publications and the quarterly magazine “Bee World”.

• Initiating steps for quality honey production and other bee hive products for overseas
and domestic markets besides enhancing productivity of various crops through bee
pollination.

• Increasing the employment opportunity in rural sector and thus enhancing the
ancillary income of the beekeepers & farmers.

6.8 The present organizational Structure of National Bee Board (NBB)

1. National Bee Board (NBB)/ General Body (GB) - 650 Members

2. Chairman- Secretary (AC&FW)

3. Vice – Chairman- Addl. Secretary, In-charge of Horticulture, DAC&FW

4. Member Secretary- Horticulture Commissioner, DAC&FW.

5. Managing Committee (MC) / Governing Council (GC)

6. (18 Members-10 Govts. Officials & 8 elected members from the society)

7. Chairman- Addl. Secretary, In-charge of Horticulture, DAC&FW

8. Member Secretary- Horticulture Commissioner, DAC&FW

9. Executive Director (Principal Executive Officer) (1) - In-charge

a. Administrative Wing
i. Section Officer, NBB (Accountant is looking after the work)
1. Office Assistant(1)
2. Accounts Section (Accountant) (1)
3. Support Team (DEOs, etc.) (3)

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b. Technical Wing
i. Technical Experts/ Consultants

C. KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION AND CBRTI

6.9 Khadi & Village Industries Commission with the inspiration of Rastrapita Mahatma Gandhi
took the task of development of the beekeeping industry with a view to uplift the financial
status of people living in extremely interior rural areas by introducing and popularizing
modern beekeeping. The Khadi & Village Industries Commission’s Act, Rules & Regulation
indicates under the Schedule (Section 2h) that the “Beekeeping Activity” is the prime
activity under Village industries.

6.10 KVIC’s infrastructure includes the Central Bee Research and Training Institute, 125 Directly
Aided Institutions , 19 State Bee Keeping Extension Center , 27 beekeeping clusters (under
SFURTI/ KRDP), 79 technical experts (officials staff), 100 master trainers/ bee assistant,
37 state / divisional and sub office, 37 nodal office. In addition, 147 bee equipment
manufacturers, 4 bee venom kit suppliers, 9 honey processing plant manufacturers and 57
colony suppliers throughout the nation support KVIC activities.

6.11 Action plan of honey mission 2018-19 under KVIC is to provide 1,31,000 Bee boxes
to 13,100 beneficiaries for a total budget of Rs.63.35 crores and some of it has already
been achieved. The list of beneficiaries is available in website for reference. The state and
divisional offices of the KVIC, the state beekeeping extension centres (SBECs) and CBRTI
perform the functions under KVIC. The CBRTI, Pune which is part of KVIC is carrying out
research on beekeeping development.

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CHAPTER 7

SETTING UP OF BEEKEEPING
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

7.1 In spite of the involvement of many agencies, the outcome is not commensurate in achieving
Sweet Revolution for food, nutritional and livelihood security through beekeeping.
Moreover, a recent UN report warns that globally about 40% of the insect pollinators are
facing extinction that can directly affect food production and nutritional security. Hence,
there is a need for an Apex Body like the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
(EAC-PM) to take lead in promoting and coordinating activities involved in Beekeeping
industry so that “Sweet/Golden Revolution” in the country could be achieved and crop
yield can be increased leading to fulfillment of the endeavor of Government of India in
doubling farmers income by 2022. In this regard, it was decided to constitute “Beekeeping
Development Committee” under the Chairmanship of Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman, EAC-PM
(The Office Memorandum with composition of the committee is given in Annexure – 3)

A. TERMS OF REFERENCE:
7.2 The following are the terms of reference of the Beekeeping Development Committee

i. To suggest measures for overall development of scientific beekeeping in the country

and quality production of honey and other beehive products;

ii. To identify issues concerning various Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations/

Agencies involved in beekeeping and suggest measures to resolve them;

iii. To coordinate, promote, sponsor and support research, extension and development
programme in beekeeping in the country as an essential input for agricultural
production;

iv. To study the domestic& International markets/ trade for honey & other beehive
products and suggest strategy for promoting production and marketing of quality
honey and other beehive products in the country, in a Mission Mode approach;

v. To suggest post-harvest management measures and infrastructural development for

beehive products viz. honey, bee pollen, propolis, bee wax, royal jelly, etc.; and

vi. Any other matter concerning with the development of beekeeping industry.

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B. CONSTITUTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE OF SUB-COMMITTEES 1 AND 2

7.3 During its first meeting held on 6th June 2018, this Committee decided to set up two Sub-
Committees (Annex – 4).

7.4 The Sub-Committee: l was assigned to take up the following terms of reference of the main
Committee:

i. Suggesting measures for overall development of scientific beekeeping in the country

and quality production of honey and other beehive products;

ii. Coordinating, promoting, sponsoring and supporting research, extension and

development programme in beekeeping in the country as an essential input for
agricultural production; and

iii. Suggesting post-harvest management measures and infrastructural development for

beehive products viz. honey, bee pollen, propolis, bee wax, royal jelly, etc.

7.5 The Sub-Committee -2 was formed to take up the following terms of reference of the main
Committee:

i. Identifying issues concerning various Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations/

Agencies involved in beekeeping and suggesting measures to resolve them;

ii. Studying the domestic and International markets/trade for honey & other beehive
products and suggesting strategy for promoting production and marketing of ·quality
honey and other beehive products in the country, in a Mission Mode approach; and

iii. Examining the issues relating to legal framework, data collection, bee census, etc. and
suggesting measures to remove impediments, if any and put in place a systematic/
scientific process.

7.6 The dates and locations of sub committee meetings are given in Annex – 5

7.7 The record notes of meetings conducted in various locations namely Delhi, Coimbatore,
Ramnagar (Haryana), Imphal, Pune, Srinagar, and Odisha to cover different regions of India
are given in annexures 6 to 14.

C. STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION MEETINGS

7.8 In total, eight stakeholder consultation meetings were conducted at different locations. Of
these, six meetings were of Sub-Committee: 1 and 2 meetings were of Sub-Committee: 2.
The dates and locations of Sub-Committee: 1 meetings are as follows:
i. On 18th July 2018 at Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute
(IARI), New Delhi [covering Northern Region].
ii. On 5th September 2018 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore [covering
Southern Region].
iii. On 4th October 2018 at Central Agricultural University, Imphal [covering North East
Region].

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Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

iv. On 16th October 2018 at Central Bee Research and Training Institute, Pune [covering
Western Region].

v. On 15th November 2018 at SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar [covering J&K Region].

vi. On 5th December 2018 at Krushi Bhavan, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar

[covering the Odisha State and Eastern Region].

7.9 The Sub-Committee:2 conducted two meetings at the following locations:

i. On 12th September 2018 at Ramnagar, Kurukshethra.

ii. On 27-28 November 2018 (state-level beekeeping seminar was conducted) (at Dr
YSR Horticultural University, Venkataramanagudem, Andhra Pradesh).

7.10 The meetings were held under the chairmanship of Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman, EAC-PM
who evinced keen interest in knowing the problems in beekeeping in India and finding
practical solutions. Some of the meetings were chaired by Shri Ratan P. Watal, Member
Secretary who attended all the meetings and interacted with stakeholders of beekeeping
industry in India. Shri K. Rajeswara Rao, Adviser, EAC-PM attended all the meetings and
monitored the proceedings and interacted with the participants.

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 Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

CHAPTER 8

ISSUES IDENTIFIED
DURING STAKEHOLDER
CONSULTATION MEETINGS

The issues identified in beekeeping during stake holder consultation meetings are listed below.

A. SUB COMMITTEE -1
8.1 ToR 1- Suggesting measures for overall development of scientific beekeeping in the country
and quality production of honey and other beehive products

1. Honey bee hives are in short supply, hives are not to standard and lack of awareness
of hive standards.

2. Honey bee colonies are of short supply among beekeepers, farmers and
entrepreneurs.

3. Non-availability of genetically superior queens for increased honey production.

4. The farmers, beekeepers and enthusiasts do not get sufficient training from
educational institutions to develop their skill and knowledge on beekeeping. Lack of
scientific knowledge of modern beekeeping.

5. Wasp, bee mite & other diseases are problems that are not researched. Non availability
of disease diagnosis and investigation centres.

6. Financial support for beekeepers is not available. Beekeeping is not economical for
beekeeper, but beneficial to environment.

7. Most of the beekeepers are illiterate and primitive type of beekeeping still in vogue.
- In North Eastern India.

8.2 ToR 2 - Coordinating, promoting, sponsoring and supporting research, extension and
development programme in beekeeping in the country as an essential input for agricultural
production

1. The role of honey bees in agriculture (particularly in increasing productivity of

vegetables, fruits, oilseeds and food grain through cross pollination) is being
overlooked. Focus not given on managed bee pollination.

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2. Beekeeper is not considered as a farmer unless he has land and is involved in

agriculture. In reality, many beekeepers are landless and hence are not considered as
beekeepers and government financial support does not reach him.

3. Use of pesticides is a serious problem. Loss of bee colonies due to pesticide sprays in
cultivated crops.

4. Beekeeping equipment are not classified as agricultural implement and thus are not
exempt from GST.

5. Honey bee hives are supplied to beneficiaries under various government schemes
who are not sufficiently trained to maintain hives and entire money and exercise goes
waste as bees abandon the hives in short time.

6. Loss of natural habitat of honey bees- mainly due to deforestation. Lack of bee
pasturage – plants providing pollen and nectar are diminishing.

7. Uprooting, cutting and burning of Plectranthus rugossus (Sollai) and Acacia which are
important bee forage plants of the Kashmir region.

8. Persisting drought conditions in some districts, particularly in south India.

9. Newly developed crop varieties / hybrids that are poor in nectar source to bees
(particularly where mustard, sunflower and eucalyptus are grown) in Northern India.

10. Difficulties in the migration of honey bee colonies due to difficult terrain/ topography,
particularly in North East India.

11. Long rainy seasons weaken the colonies that need efficient management.- North East
India.

12. North East India is most suitable for organic honey production and beekeeping in
general, but sufficient growth not seen in North East India.

13. Geographical Indication (GI) can provide extra remuneration for honey in North
East, Kashmir and South India (A. cerana honey) but not explored- North East India,
Kashmir, South India, etc.

8.3 ToR 3 - Suggesting post-harvest management measures and infrastructural development

for beehive products viz. honey, bee pollen, propolis, bee wax, royal jelly, etc.

1. Adulteration is a major problem in honey – honey is said to be adulterated with

high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or rice, tapioca, sugarcane and beet syrups that are
cheap and resemble honey in physico-chemical properties, but does not possess the
goodness and health benefits of honey.

2. These adulterants are said to be either imported or manufactured in large volumes

within the country.

3. Owing probably to the rampant adulteration of honey with cheap syrups, the price of
honey has fallen to a level (about Rs.70 per kg) with which regular beekeepers selling
pure honey (the production cost itself is about Rs.200 per kg) cannot compete with
respect to price.

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4. In spite of the new standards for honey prescribed by Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI, during August
2018, the testing facilities / laboratories are not available in the country to implement
these standards.

5. Standards fixed for honey are not sufficient enough to prevent adulteration. FSSAI
new standards are different in Hindi and English .

6. Thus without proper price for honey, the real beekeeping industry is feeling the heat
and has taken a beating.

7. Proper storage and marketing infrastructure is not available for honey and other hive
products such as bees wax, royal jelly, pollen, propolis and bee venom.

8. Standards for royal jelly and beeswax available with FSSAI are not implementable
due to lack of testing facilities/ laboratories.

9. Standards for pollen, propolis and bee venom are not available with FSSAI.

B. SUB-COMMITTEE – 2
8.4 ToR 4 - Identifying issues concerning various Ministries/ Departments/ Organisations/
Agencies involved in Beekeeping and suggesting measures to resolve them

1. Multiple organizations/ agencies are working in beekeeping viz., NBB, DAC&FW,

ICAR-DARE, KVIC-MSME, EIC & APEDA- MoC&I, MoTA, FSSAI-MoH&FW, MoEF&CC,
MoFPI, State Dept. of Agrl. Hort, Rural Development, Industry, SKVIBs ICAR-KVKs,
SAUs in states, State Forest Dept. etc.- lacking coordination and as such no nodal
agency at national / state level to coordinate beekeeping activities

2. National Bee Board under DAC&FW is functioning without direct budgetary support
from Government of India.

3. Beekeeper registration is not done locally and there is lot of time delay and hardship
to beekeepers for registration.

4. There is lack of scientific knowledge among the governmental agencies on beekeeping.

5. The material supplied by governmental agencies do not conform to standards.

6. The beneficiary selection by government departments are not systematic.

7. Honey bee hives are supplied to beneficiaries under various government schemes
who are not sufficiently trained to maintain hives and entire money and exercise goes
waste as bees abandon the hives in short time.

8.5 ToR 5 - Studying the domestic & International markets/trade for honey & other beehive
products and suggesting strategy for promoting production and marketing of quality honey
and other beehive products in the country, in a Mission Mode approach

1. Less domestic consumption of honey due to lack of awareness on goodness of honey/

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health value of honey.

2. Prices are regulated by international market and hence no local control.

3. Lack of infrastructural facilities at field/ district/ state/ national level for collection,
storage, processing, marketing, etc. of honey.

4. Unorganised sector and landless, marginal, small farmers and weaker sections are
mainly involved in beekeeping who produce small quantities.

5. No financial assistance for storing honey for getting better price in future leading
to distress sale of honey. No price support at the time of low prevailing prices at
beekeepers level.

6. There are many persons involved in between producer and consumer namely,
aggregators, traders, processors, packers, exporters, etc.

7. The adulteration of honey and sale of fake honey reduces the demand of honey
produced by beekeeper. Hence the price is not remunerative.

8.6 ToR 6 - Examining the issues relating to legal framework, data collection, bee census, etc.
and suggesting measures to remove impediments, if any and put in place a systematic/
scientific process

1. Honey is not clearly defined.

2. There is no scientific data on number of beekeepers and bee colonies in India.

3. All Beekeepers are not registered. Registration process is inaccessible to beekeepers.

4. No framework to trace honey to the producer (beekeeper in case of hive bees) or

collector (in case of wild bees).

5. Beekeepers face hardship at State Borders and Highways from police and other officials
during migration of bee colonies which is an essential operation in beekeeping.

6. Lack of coordination among beekeepers during migration of bee colonies leading to

particular places resulting in overcrowding of apiaries.

7. No financial support to beekeepers for migration and other management activities.

8. No insurance coverage to beekeepers for loss during migration including theft of

hives.

9. There are no insurance policies to protect the honey bees and beekeepers from
cyclone and flood. (Raised in Odisha and Kerala, but relevant to other locations as
well).

10. Banks do not finance / provide loan to beekeepers since they are landless.

11. Forest Department do not allow sale of honey and bee produce in forest area even
though produced from domesticated bees in hives.

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 Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

12. In the Chapter – I “Preliminary” in the Indian Forest Act, 1927, vide clause no. (4)
the details of forest produce have been mentioned with the title “Forest Produce”
includes: sub clause (iii) of 4(b), among others, the honey and wax have been
included. Imposing of the Duty on Timber and other Forest Produce (Chapter-VI),
The Control of Timber and other Forest Produce in transit (Chapter-VII), Penalties
and Procedures (Chapter-IX) & Subsidiary Rules (Chapter XII), etc. on forest produce
have also been provided in this Act.

13. Honey produced by domesticated bees are not differentiated from forest produce &
beekeepers/ traders of Honey & other beehive products, involved in promotion and
trading/ marketing of honey are liable to be booked under Forest Acts /laws.

14. Honey manufacturers and packers are not mandated to disclose the sources
(beekeepers or honey gatherers) from where they are procuring honey. Bee industry
is driven by honey exporters (whose source of honey is unknown) and not by
beekeepers.

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CHAPTER 9

RECOMMENDATIONS OF BDC

9.1 Based on the constraints/issues identified during the stakeholders’ consultation meetings,
the Beekeeping Development Committee recommends the following for the development
of beekeeping in India:

A. BEE KEEPING TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN AGRICULTURAL INPUT

1. Honey bees and the organized pollination they ensure shall be recognized as an input
in agriculture to enable high level of crop productivity and food security and prevent
pollinator decline. Crop varieties of bee friendly crops such as mustard, sunflower,
oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, etc., suitable for pollinators shall be encouraged. Bee
friendly farm practices shall be popularised to stop bee poisoning from poisonous
pesticides. Effective coordination between beekeepers and farmers to be ensured.

2. Further, bee friendly plant species in forest lands shall also be encouraged. Plantation
of bee friendly flora shall be made in road sides/ railway lands/ banks of rivers/
waste lands/ forest, public lands, etc and women self-help groups shall be engaged in
planting and maintaining the flora.

B. BEEKEEPER TO BE CONSIDERED AS FARMER

3. Beekeeper shall be considered farmer even if he is landless and government financial
support meant for farmers shall reach him. Financial support shall be provided to
beekeepers at every stage of beekeeping as beekeeping is not sufficiently remunerative
to beekeeper, but indirectly increases crop productivity. Beehives and beekeeping
equipment shall be classified as agricultural implement and thus be exempt from
GST. Banks shall finance beekeepers even if he is landless based on other credentials.
Insurance coverage to beekeepers for loss during migration including theft of hives
and from cyclone and flood damages to be provided.

C. ESTABLISHMENT OF HONEY AND POLLINATORS BOARD OF INDIA (HPBI)

4. Institutionalising NBB, which is at present being handled by one or two officials of
the Ministry of Agriculture as a part time job, by establishing a full-fledged authority/

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 Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

agency which is necessary to synchronise the efforts of multiple agencies so that

beekeeping and the overall development of apiculture in the country can get a
boost. Such authority/agency shall be rechristened as Honey and Pollinators Board
of India (HPBI) under the MoA&FW. Head of the other agencies shall be made as
ex-officio Members of HPBI. HPBI shall have regional offices to cover all the four
regions in the country. It can also have an office covering exclusively North Eastern
states. The composition of HPBI and the organisational structure shall be worked
out by the MoA&FW in consultation with the EAC-PM. Beekeeper registration shall
be done locally and at the doorstep of beekeeper and there shall not be time delay
and hardship to beekeepers for registration. Scientific data on number of beekeepers
and bee colonies in India shall be recorded through registration of beekeepers.
The State Horticulture Department shall be responsible at district and State level
for registration of beekeepers, maintaining the records and reporting to regional
Directors of the HPBI. More IBDC centres shall be funded by HPBI by identifying
locations with beekeeping potential. Existing IBDCs shall be strengthened and
manned by experts with sufficient training. Diversification of hive products such as
royal jelly, beeswax, bee pollen, propolis, bee venom, shall be promoted and ensured
by capacity building by HPBI with support of ICAR. Honey Industry personnel who
are members of the HPBI shall also be involved in decision making with regard to
beekeeping development in India to encourage PPP mode.

5. Availability of standard bee hives and live bee colonies with superior queens, disease
free condition shall be ensured to farmers and beekeepers by HBPI. Research on
these lines shall be done by ICAR.

6. NABARD through FSDF shall give priority to funding beekeeping activities in its major
projects.

D. BEEKEEPERS’ FEDERATIONS OR FARMER PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS

(FPOS)
7. Organising the beekeepers into effective entities such as Beekeepers’ Federations
or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) like IFFCO for managing their inputs &
equipments and marketing their produce. FPOs shall be set up in different regions of
India including North east India. Common facilities such as honey processing units,
hive distribution centres shall be set up under such federations. ICAR-KVKs, HPBI,
NABARD and KVIC field centres shall be involved in creating FPOs which will collect
honey from producers, and this will reduce the role of middlemen and also reduce
the gap between price at point of collection from beekeeper and market price (which
is wide at present).

E. HONEY PRICE STABILIZATION FUND

8. Since honey price is a major problem and is reported to be very low, a honey price
stabilization fund with Rs.200 crore shall be made by the government of India (to
start with) which can support farmers during uncertain price situation.

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F. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF HONEY BEES AND POLLINATORS RESEARCH (IIHBPR)

– A NEW INSTITUTE UNDER ICAR FOR STRENGTHENING BEEKEEPING AND
POLLINATOR RESEARCH IN INDIA
9. ICAR shall upgrade its project coordinating Unit of AICRP on Honey bees and
Pollinators, New Delhi to Indian Institute of Honey Bees and Pollinators Research
(IIHBPR), New Delhi and shall continue to lead research on beekeeping and enhancing
its existing sub-centres in SAUs to specialized regional centres of excellence namely
A. mellifera centre in PAU, Ludhiana, Apis cerana centre in TNAU, Stingless bee centre
in North East India in CAU, Imphal and bumble bee centre in Dr YSPUHF, Solan. More
centres of excellence shall be designated based on need from time to time. ICAR shall
also strengthen its existing sub-centres to regional research laboratories on honey
bee pests and diseases diagnosis and management and other aspects of beekeeping.

10. Scientists of different disciplines namely plant breeding, entomology, economics,

agricultural chemistry, etc. shall be encouraged to work in coordination to appreciate
the role of honey bees and pollinators in agriculture and sustainable national
development.

11. Apiculture as a subject shall be recognized by ICAR and it shall formulate syllabus
for Masters Degree and Ph.D. in Agriculture/Horticulture, with specialization in
apiculture. All the SAUs accredited by ICAR shall upgrade their apiculture units to
apiculture departments and shall start teaching Masters in Agriculture/ Horticulture
and Ph.D with specialization in Apiculture and ICAR shall ensure the same.

12. The Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), MoA&FW shall recognize
apiculture subject for conducting ARS and NET exams and recruit specialists in
apiculture.

13. ICAR through its KVKs and centres in SAUs shall enhance providing periodical training
to the beekeeping trainers. Capacity building in respect of bee health, management
through short term and long term trainings to beekeepers must be ensured.

G. BEEKEEPING DEVELOPMENT BY KVIC AS A VILLAGE INDUSTRY

14. The activities of KVIC under MoMSME and KVIB under state governments shall
synchronise with HPBI and engage in registration of beekeepers avoiding duplication
of efforts, provide data relating to beekeepers, honey production, etc to it. HPBI shall
maintain centralised data duly avoiding duplication/ multiplication. KVIC and KVIB
shall impart training on beekeeping to entrepreneurs including women self-help
groups and implement government schemes from the angle of village industry.

15. Census of beekeepers and bee colonies in India through registration shall be ensured
by HPBI with support of other agencies namely MoS&PI, SDH, KVIC, KVIB etc.

16. CBRTI, Pune shall be strengthened to carry out research on honey and bee products,
hive design and all aspects of beekeeping. CBRTI, Pune shall function in synchrony
with ICAR-IIHBPR and avoid duplication of research activities. Hives and vehicles

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 Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

suitable for migration of bee colonies shall be designed. State-wise and region-wise
floral calendar shall be prepared by CBRTI and shared for the benefit of beekeepers
and scientists. The floral calendars already prepared for every district and state of
India shall be printed / published online for wide circulation among beekeepers of
India.

H. STANDARDS FOR HONEY AND BEE PRODUCTS STORAGE, TESTING AND

QUALITY CONTROL
17. FSSAI shall notify standards and specifications for honey and all other hive products
produced by different honey bee species in consultation with concerned stakeholders
including BIS and AGMARK. All the agencies shall adopt uniform standards and
specifications. Quality based pricing of honey and other hive products shall be worked
by FSSAI.

18. Proper storage, processing and marketing infrastructure from regional to national
level for honey and other hive products such as beeswax, royal jelly, pollen, propolis
and bee venom shall be ensured by HBPI and FSSAI. Internationally accredited
Quality Testing Labs for Honey & other hive products shall be set up at regional and
state-level and major beekeeping hubs and the labs shall charge a nominal testing fee
from beekeepers and issue them Quality Certificate.

I. PREVENTION OF ADULTERATION OF HONEY AND BEE PRODUCTS

19. Honey (and bee products) sold in India or exported shall be traceable to a registered
beekeeper or a registered collector (in case of rock bee honey). Honey without a
known source shall not be treated as honey. This will prevent adulteration.

20. HBPI and FSSAI will ensure the traceability of honey source. Digital methods such as
block chain shall be used for ensuring traceability of honey and bee products.

J. REDUCING HARDSHIP OF BEEKEEPERS DURING MIGRATION IN STATE

BORDERS AND FORESTS
21. Beekeepers shall be protected from facing hardship at State Borders and Highways
from police and other officials during migration of bee colonies which is an essential
operation in beekeeping.

22. Forest Department shall not stop beekeepers from selling honey or beeswax produced
from domesticated hive bees, the definition for the term ‘forest produce’ in the Indian
Forest Act, 1927 is to be amended accordingly. The Indian Forest Act, 1927, has to be
amended to exempt honey, beeswax and other products produced from domesticated
hive bees namely Apis mellifera, Apis cerana and stingless bees from the term ‘forest
produce’ mentioned in Chapter I (4). This will help in preventing imposing of the duty,
penalties and procedures and subsidiary rules, etc. on hive honey and bee products
produced from bee hives kept in forests.

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K. HONEY BEES TO PREVENT HUMAN – ELEPHANT CONFLICT

23. Honey bees shall be kept in locations with elephant – human conflict so as to minimize
effect of the conflict.

L. EXPORT PROMOTION OF HONEY AND BEE PRODUCTS

24. APEDA MoC&I shall help in export of honey with simplified procedures including
honey from native bee species. The domestic players and exporters of honey shall be
brought in line by APEDA for promoting honey export. An Export Promotion Council
on honey and bee products shall be formed in consultation with MoC&I and HPBI.

M. PROMOTING HONEY AS HEALTHY AND NUTRITIONAL FOOD

25. Since per capita honey consumption in India is very poor, considering the health
benefits of consuming honey, honey and bee pollen shall be included in mid day
meals and child nutrition programmes, sportspersons and defense personnel with
the support of National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. Honey shall be promoted
as healthy nutritional food through mass media.

N. COMMON CRITERIA FOR ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO IBDCs, ETC.

26. Common criteria for allocation of funds for IBDCs and various schemes shall be
followed.

27. There shall be system of evaluation of development projects and schemes implemented
by the governmental agencies. An independent organization or a learned society shall
be engaged in the monitoring and evaluation of projects implemented.

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Fig. 42. Proposed role of organizations for beekeeping development and research in India

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Report of the Beekeeping Development Committee

CHAPTER 10

IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES

10.1 MOA&FW, SECRETARY DARE AND DG, ICAR

1. ICAR shall upgrade its project coordinating Unit of AICRP on Honey bees and
Pollinators, New Delhi to Indian Institute of Honey Bees and Pollinators Research
(IIHBPR), New Delhi and shall continue to lead research on beekeeping and enhancing
its existing sub-centres in SAUs to specialized regional centres of excellence namely
A. mellifera centre in PAU, Ludhiana, Apis cerana centre in TNAU, Stingless bee centre
in North East India in CAU, Imphal and bumble bee centre in Dr YSPUHF, Solan. More
centres of excellences shall be designated based on need from time to time. ICAR shall
also strengthen its existing sub-centres to regional research laboratories on honey
bee pests and diseases diagnosis and management and other aspects of beekeeping.

2. Apiculture as a subject shall be recognized by ICAR and it shall formulate syllabus

for Masters Degree and Ph.D. in Agriculture/Horticulture, with specialization in
apiculture. All the SAUs accredited by ICAR shall upgrade their apiculture units to
apiculture departments and shall start teaching Masters in Agriculture/ Horticulture
and Ph.D with specialization in Apiculture and ICAR shall ensure the same.

3. The Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), MoA&FW shall recognize

apiculture subject for conducting ARS and NET exams and recruit specialists in
apiculture.

4. ICAR through its KVKs and centres in SAUs shall enhance providing periodical training
to the beekeeping trainers. Capacity building in respect of bee health, management
through short term and long term trainings to beekeepers must be ensured.

5. Honey bees and organized pollination shall be recognized as an input in agriculture

to ensure high level of crop productivity and food security and prevent pollinator
decline.

6. Crop varieties of bee friendly crops such as mustard, sunflower, oilseeds, pulses,
vegetables, etc., suitable for pollinators shall be encouraged.

7. Bee friendly farm practices shall be popularized to stop bee poisoning from poisonous

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pesticides

8. Availability of standard bee hives and live bee colonies with superior queens, disease
free condition shall be ensured to farmers and beekeepers by HPBI. Research on
these lines shall be done by ICAR.

9. Diversification of hive products such as royal jelly, beeswax, bee pollen, propolis bee
venom, must be promoted and ensured by capacity building by HPBI with support of
ICAR.

10. Organising the beekeepers into effective entities such as Beekeepers’ Federations
or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) like IFFCO for managing their inputs &
equipments and marketing their produce. FPOs shall be set up in different regions of
India including North east India. Common facilities such as honey processing units,
hive distribution centres shall be set up under such federations. ICAR-KVKs, HPBI
and KVIC field centres shall be involved in creating FPOs which will collect honey
from producers, and this will reduce the role of middlemen and also reduce the gap
between price at point of collection from beekeeper and market price (which is wide
at present).

10.2 MOA&FW, DAC&FW

1. Honey bees and organized pollination they ensure shall be recognized as an input in
agriculture to ensure high level of crop productivity and food security and prevent
pollinator decline.

2. Crop varieties of bee friendly crops such as mustard, sunflower, oilseeds, pulses,
vegetables, etc., suitable for pollinators shall be encouraged.

3. Bee friendly farm practices shall be popularised to stop bee poisoning from poisonous
pesticides.

4. Institutionalising NBB, which is at present being handled by one or two officials of

the Ministry of Agriculture as a part time job, by establishing a full-fledged authority/
agency which is necessary to synchronise the efforts of multiple agencies so that
beekeeping and the overall development of apiculture in the country can get a boost.
Such authority/agency shall be christened as Honey and Pollinators Board of India
(HPBI) under the MoA&FW.

5. Head of the other agencies shall be made as ex-officio Members of HPBI. HPBI shall
have regional offices to cover all the four regions in the country. It can also have an
office covering exclusively North Eastern states. The Directors of these HPBI and its
sub-centres shall be filled by deputation of existing scientists preferably specialised
in apiculture / entomology subjects from ICAR and SAUs.

6. The composition of HPBI and the organisational structure shall be worked out by the
MoA&FW in consultation with the EAC-PM.

7. Beekeeper registration shall be done locally and at the doorstep of beekeeper and

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there shall not be time delay and hardship to beekeepers for registration.

8. Scientific data on number of beekeepers and bee colonies in India shall be recorded
through registration of beekeepers.

9. The State Horticulture Department shall be responsible at district and State level
for registration of beekeepers, maintaining the records and reporting to regional
Directors of the HPBI.

10. More IBDC centres shall be funded by HPBI by identifying locations with beekeeping
potential. Existing IBDCs shall be strengthened and manned with experts who are
trained.

11. Beekeeper shall be considered farmer even if he is landless and government financial
support meant for farmers shall reach him.

12. Financial support to be provided to beekeepers at every stage of beekeeping as

beekeeping is not sufficiently remunerative to beekeeper, but beekeeping indirectly
increases crop productivity.

13. Beehives and beekeeping equipment shall be classified as agricultural implement

and thus be exempt from GST.

14. Banks shall finance beekeepers even if he is landless based on other credentials.

15. Insurance coverage to beekeepers for loss during migration including theft of hives
and from cyclone and flood damages to be provided.

16. Proper storage, processing and marketing infrastructure from regional to national
level for honey and other hive products such as bees wax, royal jelly, pollen, propolis
and bee venom shall be ensured by HBPI and FSSAI. Quality based pricing of honey
and other hive products shall be worked by FSSAI.

17. Quality testing labs for honey & other hive products shall be set up at major beekeeping
hubs in India identified by HPBI and the labs may charge a nominal testing fee from
beekeepers and issue them Quality Certificate.

18. Honey (and bee products) sold in India or exported shall be traceable to a registered
beekeeper or a registered collector (in case of rock bee honey). Honey without a
known source shall not be treated as honey. This will prevent adulteration.

19. HPBI shall maintain centralised data of beekeepers, honey gatherers, bee colonies
and bee products duly avoiding duplication/multiplication.

20. HBPI and FSSAI will ensure the traceability of honey source. Digital methods such as
block chain shall be explored for ensuring traceability of honey and bee products.

21. There shall be system of evaluation of development projects and schemes implemented
by the governmental agencies. An independent organization or a learned society shall
be engaged in the monitoring and evaluation of projects implemented.

22. Availability of standard bee hives and live bee colonies with superior queens, disease

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free condition shall be ensured to farmers and beekeepers by HBPI. Research on

these lines shall be done by ICAR.

23. Honey Industry personnel who are members of the HPBI shall also be involved in
decision making with regard to beekeeping development in India to encourage PPP
mode.

24. Diversification of hive products such as royal jelly, beeswax, bee pollen, propolis bee
venom, shall be promoted and ensured by capacity building by HPBI with support of
ICAR.

25. Since honey price is a major problem and is reported to be very low, a honey price
stabilization fund with Rs.200 crore shall be made by the government of India (to
start with) which can support beekeepers during uncertain price situation.

26. Organising the beekeepers into effective entities such as Beekeepers’ Federations
or Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) like IFFCO for managing their inputs &
equipments and marketing their produce. FPOs shall be set up in different regions of
India including North east India. Common facilities such as honey processing units,
hive distribution centres shall be set up under such federations. ICAR-KVKs, HPBI,
NABARD and KVIC field centres shall be involved in creating FPOs which will collect
honey from producers, and this will reduce the role of middlemen and also reduce
the gap between price at point of collection from beekeeper and market price (which
is wide at present).

27. Honey bees shall be kept in locations with elephant – human conflict so as to minimize
effect of the conflict.

10.3 MOMSME, KVIC AND STATE KVIBS

1. The activities of KVIC under MoMSME and KVIB under state governments shall
synchronise with HPBI and engage in registration of beekeepers avoiding duplication
of efforts, provide data relating to beekeepers, honey production, etc to it.

2. KVIC and KVIB shall impart training on beekeeping to entrepreneurs including FPOs
and women SHGs.

3. KVIC and KVIB shall implement government schemes on beekeeping from the angle
of village industry.

4. State-wise and region-wise floral calendar shall be prepared by CBRTI and shared
for the benefit of beekeepers and scientists. The floral calendars already prepared
for every district and state of India shall be printed / published online for wide
circulation among beekeepers of India.

5. CBRTI, Pune shall be strengthened to carry out research on honey and bee products,
hive design and all aspects of beekeeping.

6. CBRTI, Pune shall function in synchrony with ICAR-IIHBPR and avoid duplication of
research activities.

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7. Hives and vehicles suitable for migration of bee colonies shall be designed.

8. There shall be system of evaluation of development projects and schemes implemented

by the governmental agencies. An independent organization or a learned society shall
be engaged in the monitoring and evaluation of projects implemented.

10.4 MOH&FW, FSSAI

1. FSSAI shall notify standards and specifications for honey and all other hive products
produced by different honey bee species in consultation with concerned stakeholders
including BIS and AGMARK. All the agencies shall adopt uniform standards and
specifications.

2. Proper storage, processing and marketing infrastructure from regional to national

level for honey and other hive products such as bees wax, royal jelly, pollen, propolis
and bee venom shall be ensured by HBPI and FSSAI. Quality based pricing of honey
and other hive products shall be worked by FSSAI.

3. Internationally accredited quality testing labs for honey & other hive products shall
be set up at regional and state level and major beekeeping hubs in India identified by
HPBI and the labs shall charge a nominal testing fee from beekeepers and issue them
Quality Certificate.

4. Honey (and bee products) sold in India or exported shall be traceable to a registered
beekeeper or a registered collector (in case of rock bee honey). Honey without a
known source shall not be treated as honey. This will prevent adulteration.

5. HBPI and FSSAI shall ensure the traceability of honey source. Digital methods such as
block chain shall be explored for ensuring traceability of honey and bee products.

6. Since per capita honey consumption in India is very poor, considering the health
benefits of consuming honey, honey and bee pollen shall be included in mid day meals
and child nutrition programmes, women health care,and health care of sportspersons,
defense personnel with the support of National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.

10.5 MINISTRY OF FINANCE

1. Beekeeper shall be considered farmer even if he is landless and government financial
support meant for farmers shall reach him.

2. Financial support shall be provided to beekeepers at every stage of beekeeping

as beekeeping is not remunerative to beekeeper, but indirectly increases crop
productivity.

3. Beehives and beekeeping equipment shall be classified as agricultural implement

and thus be exempted from GST.

4. NABARD through FSDF shall give priority to funding beekeeping activities in its major
projects.

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5. Banks shall finance beekeepers even if he is landless based on other credentials.

6. Insurance coverage to beekeepers for loss during migration including theft of hives
and from cyclone and flood damages shall be provided.

7. Since honey price is a major problem and is reported to be very low, a honey price
stabilization fund with Rs.200 crore shall be made by the government of India to start
with which can support farmers during uncertain price situation.

8. There shall be a system of evaluation of development projects and schemes

implemented by the governmental agencies. An independent organization or a learned
society shall be engaged in the monitoring and evaluation of projects implemented.

10.6 MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE

1. Beekeepers shall be protected from facing hardship at State Borders and Highways
from police and other officials during migration of bee colonies which is an essential
operation in beekeeping.

2. Forest Department shall not stop beekeepers from selling honey or beeswax produced
from domesticated hive bees, the definition for the term ‘forest produce’ in the Indian
Forest Act, 1927 is to be amended accordingly. The Indian Forest Act, 1927, has to
be amended to exempt honey, beeswax and other wax produced from domesticated
hive bees namely Apis mellifera, Apis cerana and stingless bees from the term ‘forest
produce’ mentioned in Chapter I (4). This will help in preventing imposing of the duty,
penalties and procedures and subsidiary rules, etc. on hive honey and bee products
produced from bee hives kept in forests.

10.7 MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

1. Beekeepers shall be protected from facing hardship at State Borders and Highways
from police and other officials during migration of bee colonies which is an essential
operation in beekeeping.

2. Plantation of bee friendly flora shall be done in road sides/ railway lands/ banks of
rivers/ waste lands/ forest, public lands, etc and women self-help groups shall be
engaged in planting and maintaining the flora

10.8 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

1. Forest Department shall not stop beekeepers from selling honey or beeswax produced
from domesticated hive bees, the definition for the term ‘forest produce’ in theIndian
Forest Act, 1927 is to be amended accordingly. The Indian Forest Act, 1927, has to
be amended to exempt honey, beeswax and other wax produced from domesticated
hive bees namely Apis mellifera, Apis cerana and stingless bees from the term ‘forest
produce’ mentioned in Chapter I (4). This will help in preventing imposing of the duty,
penalties and procedures and subsidiary rules, etc. on hive honey and bee products
produced from bee hives kept in forests.
2. Further, bee friendly plant species in forest lands shall also be encouraged.

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3. Plantation of bee friendly flora in road sides/ railway lands/ banks of rivers/ waste
lands/ forest, public lands, etc and women self-help groups shall be engaged in
planting and maintaining the flora.
4. Honey bees shall be kept in locations with elephant – human conflict so as to minimize
effect of the conflict.

10.9 MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, APEDA

1. APEDA MoC&I shall help in export of honey with simplified procedures including
honey from native bee species.
2. An export promotion council on honey and bee products shall be formed in
consultation with MoC&I and HPBI.
3. The domestic players and exporters of honey shall be brought in line by APEDA for
promoting honey export.

10.10 MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

1. Since per capita honey consumption in India is very poor, considering the health
benefits of consuming honey, honey and bee pollen shall be included in mid day meals
and child nutrition programmes, women health care with the support of National
Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.
2. Honey shall be promoted as healthy nutritional food through mass media.

10.11 MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

1. Considering the health benefits of consuming honey, honey and bee pollen shall
be included in the diet of sports persons with the support of National Institute of
Nutrition, Hyderabad.

10.12 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

1. Considering the health benefits of consuming honey, honey and bee pollen shall be
included in the diet of defense personnel with the support of National Institute of
Nutrition, Hyderabad.

10.13 MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

1. Census of beekeepers and bee colonies in India through registration shall be ensured
by HPBI with support of other agencies namely MoS&PI, SDH, KVIC, KVIB etc.
2. Honey (and bee products) sold in India or exported shall be traceable to a registered
beekeeper or a registered collector (in case of rock bee honey). Honey without a
known source shall not be treated as honey. This will prevent adulteration.

10.14 MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

1. Honey shall be promoted as healthy nutritional food through mass media in
coordination with HPBI.

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