Lok Sabha Question No. 5165 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Implementation NBHM in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Navaskani K, Shri Selvam G, Shri C N Annadurai

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5165

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2026

## IMPLEMENTATION NBHM IN TAMIL NADU

5165.      SHRI SELVAM G:

SHRI NAVASKANI K:

SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  implementing  the  National  Beekeeping  and  Honey  Mission (NBHM)  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  and  if  so,  the  objectives,  coverage  in  the  State  and components of the Mission;

(b)  the  number  of  beneficiaries,  beekeeping  clusters,  honey  processing  units  and  Farmer Producer Organisations supported under NBHM in Tamil Nadu during the last three years, district-wise;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  assessed  the  impact  of  NBHM  on  income enhancement, crop pollination and livelihood diversification of small and marginal farmers in the State, if so, the finding there of;

(d)  the  measures  taken  to  strengthen  access  to  quality  bee  colonies,  modern  equipment, testing  and  certification  facilities,  branding  and  market  linkage  for  Tamil  Nadu  beekeepers; and

(e) the  steps  being  taken  to  further  expand scientific  beekeeping and value  addition in  the State?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a):  Government  of  India,  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  is implementing  National  Beekeeping  and  Honey  Mission  (NBHM)  a  Central  Sector  Scheme through National Bee Board (NBB) with the objective to promote scientific beekeeping and holistic development of beekeeping sector in the country including Tamil Nadu. Three MiniMissions under NBHM have following components.

- i. Mini  Mission-I:  Setting up  of  Integrated  Beekeeping Development Centers (IBDCs), honey  testing  labs,  bee  disease  diagnostic  labs,  nucleus  stock  development  centre,  bee breeders, Human Resources Development (HRD) / capacity building, technology demonstration, empowerment of women through Beekeeping etc.
- ii. Mini Mission-II: Setting up of collection, trading, branding, value addition, marketing centers, honey processing plants, storages, etc.
- iii. Mini Mission-III: Research and Development (R&D).
4. (b):  200  beekeepers  /  beneficiaries  benefited  through  8  trainings  on  scientific  beekeeping supported  under  NBHM  during  the  last  3  years  organized  by  Tamil  Nadu  Horticulture Development  Agency  (TANHODA)  in  Chennai  district  and  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra  (KVK)  in Chengalpattu  district  in  the  state.  Besides,  the  details  of  beneficiaries  from  the  training  / seminar programmes organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore is also given below.

| Programme                                          | Districts                                                                                                                                                                    |   No. of Beneficiarie s |
|----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|
| 4 State level seminars                             | Coimbatore, Madurai, Killikulam and Trichy                                                                                                                                   |                    1000 |
| 15 District level seminars                         | Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Virudhunagar, Vellore, Theni, Dharmapuri, Salem, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ooty, Villupuram, Tiruppur, Kanyakumari and Thiruvallur                       |                    2250 |
| 18 State level trainings                           | Coimbatore, Madurai, Tuticorin, Trichy, Virudhunagar, Vellore, Thiruvarur, Salem, Ooty, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Dharmapuri, Tiruppur, Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Thiruvallur |                     450 |
| 4 Trainings to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) | Madurai, Sivaganga, Chennai and Thiruvallur                                                                                                                                  |                     200 |

(c):    The  third-party  evaluation  study  of  NBHM  by  the  Management  Development  Institute (MDI),  Gurgaon,  Haryana  has  reported  that  the  training  programs  cover  the  majority  of aspects  related to  beekeeping  as  well  as  pollination  management.  It  has  increased beekeeper  knowledge,  confidence  and  practical  skills  related  to  beekeeping  and  hive management  and  maintenance  leading  to  improved  income,  work  quality,  and  community well-being.  NBHM  has  created  a  positive  impact  on  beekeepers'  and  other  stakeholders' satisfaction,  knowledge,  customer  orientation  and  has  made  them  more  efficient  in  honey processing. Further, it has also helped to understand the crucial role of honey bees in the pollination of cross-pollinated crops. Stakeholders have started appreciating beekeeping as a vital input for agriculture, resulted in improved income for beekeepers and farmers, as well as created employment opportunities for unemployed youth and women participants.

TNAU,  Coimbatore  has  conducted  technology  demonstrations  on  the  impact  of  honey bees  on  yield  and  quality  improvement  in  mandated  crops  including  coconut,  sunflower, gingelly, moringa, coriander and vegetables etc. at 15 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) (Salem, Dharmapuri, Kanyakumari, Tiruppur, Pudukottai, Villuppuram, and Ramnathapuram). The demonstrations clearly  indicated  that  managed  honey  bee  pollination  significantly  increased  pollinator visitation,  improved  fruit  /  seed  set  and  resulted  in  measurable  enhancement  of  yield  per

Ooty, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvarur, Trichy, Madurai, Virudhunagar, hectare  across  crops  (coconut:20-25%,  sunflower:15-18%,  gingelly:20-22%,  moringa:2528%, coriander:20%, vegetables:18-20%).

(d) & (e):  Under NBHM project-based financial assistance is provided to the Implementing Agencies (IAs). Projects on capital infrastructure development such as establishment of one Mini  honey  Testing  Lab  at  Kanyakumari  district,  3  custom  hiring  centres  (CHCs)  at Chengalpattu, Vellore  and  Virudhunagar  districts,  318  training  on  scientific  beekeeping,  38 seminars, 37 Women Empowerment Self Help Group  (SHGs) formation for human resource development and capacity building  and 3 research and development proposals have been sanctioned to IAs in Tamil Nadu for holistic development of beekeeping sector in the state.

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