National Bee Board (NBB)
(Empowering Beekeepers, Enhancing Farmers’ Income, and Boosting India’s Honey Economy)
🏢 Basic Information
Full Name: National Bee Board
Abbreviation: NBB
Parent Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India
Type: Autonomous body (registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860)
Established: 2000 (reconstituted in 2006 and again in 2020)
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Official Website: https://nbb.gov.in
About:
The National Bee Board (NBB) promotes scientific beekeeping in India to increase honey production, crop pollination, and rural employment. It supports farmers, beekeepers, and entrepreneurs under the “National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)”, part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
Its mission is to make India a global leader in honey and bee product exports by ensuring quality, traceability, and sustainable bee management.
Objectives
- Promote scientific beekeeping for income generation and employment.
- Improve crop productivity through pollination by honey bees.
- Provide training and technical support to farmers, beekeepers, and entrepreneurs.
- Establish honey testing laboratories and bee breeding centers.
- Promote research and innovation in beekeeping technologies.
- Support honey processing, branding, and export promotion.
- Ensure quality and traceability of honey and other bee products.
Benefits
- Income Generation: Beekeeping provides an extra source of income for farmers with minimal investment.
- Pollination Support: Increases productivity of crops like mustard, sunflower, fruits, and vegetables by 20–30%.
- Employment: Creates rural jobs, especially for women and youth.
- Financial Assistance: Subsidy up to 40–50% for hives, colonies, and processing units.
- Export Promotion: India’s honey exports are growing due to NBB’s quality and branding initiatives.
- Training & Skill Development: Free or subsidized training programmes for new beekeepers.
- Environmental Benefits: Helps maintain ecological balance through pollination and biodiversity conservation.
Services Provided
- Distribution of bee colonies, boxes, and equipment
- Training and capacity building for farmers and entrepreneurs
- Assistance in setting up processing and packaging units
- Honey testing and certification services
- Market linkage and export promotion support
- Technology transfer for bee breeding and disease control
Beneficiaries
- Individual farmers and beekeepers
- Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
- Cooperative Societies
- Startups and MSMEs in honey processing
- Traders and Exporters of honey and bee products
- Women entrepreneurs in rural areas
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card / Voter ID
- Passport-size photograph
- Bank account details
- Land ownership or lease documents (if applicable)
- Beekeeping experience certificate (if any)
- FPO / SHG / MSME registration (for groups or enterprises)
- Project proposal (for setting up honey units)
- GST / PAN (for businesses)
Major Schemes & Initiatives
| National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) | Launched in 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Implemented by NBB across India to promote: Capacity building & training of beekeepers Setting up Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres (IBDCs) Establishment of honey testing laboratories Financial support for bee boxes, colonies, and processing units Assistance up to 40–50% for beekeeping projects. |
| Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) – Subcomponent: Beekeeping | Provides support for market linkages, branding, and marketing of honey. Helps FPOs, SHGs, and cooperatives create value-added honey products. |
| Beekeeping under MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture) | Supports beekeeping as a complementary activity for horticulture farmers. Subsidy for bee colonies, hives, and training programmes. |
| Honey Testing Laboratories | NBB has established and accredited labs for honey quality certification. Ensures compliance with FSSAI and export standards. |
| Capacity Building & Skill Development | Regular training for: Farmers, SHGs, and youth Trainers and master beekeepers Entrepreneurs setting up honey-based businesses Conducted through KVKs, State Agriculture Universities, and IBDCs. |
Who’s Who
| Designation | Name | Contact / Email |
|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | Shri Sanjay Agarwal | chairperson@nbb.gov.in |
| Executive Director | Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi | ed@nbb.gov.in |
| Deputy Director (Technical) | Shri A.K. Singh | ddtech@nbb.gov.in |
| Deputy Director (Training & Promotion) | Ms. R. Meena | ddtraining@nbb.gov.in |
| Regional Offices: | Located in major honey-producing states (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu) | See official site |
Contact Details
National Bee Board (NBB)
Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Government of India
Address: B-Wing, 2nd Floor, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001
📞 Phone: +91-11-2338 2092 / 2338 2008
📧 Email: info@nbb.gov.in |. Website: https://nbb.gov.in
Grievance Redressal
- Public Grievance Portal: https://pgportal.gov.in
- Email for feedback/complaints: grievance@nbb.gov.in
- Issues related to subsidy, training, or honey quality can also be raised through State Horticulture Departments.