Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Impact of Apiculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.84

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  FEBRUARY, 2021

## IMPACT OF APICULTURE

## 84. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the economic impact of apiculture (beekeeping), State-wise;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  any  schemes  to  support  the  apiculture  industry; including but not limited to tribal beekeeping initiatives; and
- (c) if so, the details and outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): No formal study on economic impact of apiculture (beekeeping), has been conducted.

But Apiculture/ Beekeeping is known to contribute for income generation through production of honey  &  other beehive products, enhancing  crop yield by pollination support,  environment sustainability & bio-diversity and as a source of livelihood.

- (b) & (c): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Ministry of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (MoA&FW),  Government  of  India,  is  implementing  Mission  for Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture  (MIDH)  for  overall  development  of  horticulture  in  the country.  Under  MIDH,  among  others,  to  promote  beekeeping  in  the  country,  a  component  of 'Pollination  support  through  Beekeeping'  has  been  included.    Under  this  component  financial assistance  is  provided  for  various  capacity  building  programmes  (trainings  &  exposure  visits  of farmers/ beekeepers, officers/ field workers etc., seminars/ workshops, etc.), assistance of Rs.20.00 lakhs per project for production of nucleus stock of honeybees, 40% assistance limited to Rs.4.00 lakhs  of  the  total  cost  of  the  project  for  developing  bee  breeders,  40%  assistance  limited  to Rs.1600/-  per  honeybee  colony  of  8  frame  each  with  beehive,  supers,  etc.  and  40%  assistance limited to Rs.8000/- for one complete set of beekeeping equipments including honey extractor, food grade plastic containers, etc.  The State Departments of Horticulture/ Agriculture are the implementing agencies for implementation of the Mission's programmes/ components in the field.

Further,  in  2006,  to  promote  scientific  beekeeping  in  the  country,  DAC&FW  constituted National  Bee  Board  (NBB).  NBB,  has  also  been  designated  as  National  Level  Agency  (NLA)  for implementation  of  various  activities/  components  for  development  of  scientific  beekeeping  under MIDH. Beekeeping is also being promoted under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), DAC&FW.

Keeping in view the importance of Apiculture/Beekeeping, Govt. of India also approved a new Central Sector Scheme entitled 'National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)' for 2 years (2018-19 &  2019-20)  for  overall  promotion  and  development  of  scientific  beekeeping  in  mission  mode  to achieve the goal of 'Sweet Revolution' in the country. NBHM is being implemented through National Bee Board (NBB) with budget provision of Rs. 500.00 crores from 2020-21 to 2022-23. The subsidy pattern under the scheme is as under:

## A.  For States other than NE & Himalayan States:

-  50% in case of individual beneficiaries/ Societies/ Firms / Companies etc.;
-  75% in case of  institutional  framework,  including  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs)/  Co-operatives/ FPOs/ FPCs, etc.; and
-  100%  for  National/  State  level  Governmental  Organizations,  including  NBB,  ICAR,  State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/ Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs), etc.

## B.  For North Eastern Region & Himalayas States:

-  90% for all individuals, institutions/ organizations/ societies/ Co-operatives/ Self Help Groups (SHGs)/ Firms /Companies/ FPOs / FPCs, etc.; and
-  100% for Government agencies/ organizations.

Ministry  of  Micro,  Small  &  Medium  Enterprises  (MSME)  and  Rural  Development  also promote  apiculture  through  Cluster  Development  Scheme  SFURTI  and  through  Mahila  Kisans (MKs)  under  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana-  National  Rural  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NRLM) respectively.

## Outcome  of  the  above  efforts/schemes,  especially  after  restructuring  of  NBB  in  2006,  are given as under:

-  Honey bee colonies increased from about 10 lakhs in 2005-06 to about 36 lakhs in 2019-20;
-  Honey production increased from 32 to 35,000 Metric Tonnes(MTs) in 2005-06 to 1,20,000 MTs in 2019-20;
-  Export  of  honey  increased  from  9,000  MTs  in  2005-06  to  59537  MTs  2019-20  &  61,333  MTs honey was exported in 2018-19;
-  A World Class Honey Testing Lab at NDDB , Anand, Gujarat setup under NBHM. The Lab has been accredited by NABL and started working/ testing of honey samples;
-  29  Bee  Breeders have  been  developed  for  multiplication/  production  of quality  honeybee colonies along with queens;
-  10,000 Beekeepers/Beekeeping & Honey Societies/Firms/Companies with 16.00 lakhs honeybee colonies have been registered with NBB;
-  16 Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres (IBDCs) as role model of beekeeping have been commissioned.

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