Relevance: GS-3: Food processing and related industries in India- scope’ and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management
Key phrases: Integrated Farming System, Agricultural and Processed Food Products, Quality Production, Production and Export, National Beekeeping and Honey Mission
Why in News?
- To harness export potential of honey in line with the PM’s vision of a ‘Sweet Revolution’ through promotion of beekeeping and allied activities, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been giving thrust on boosting exports through ensuring quality production and market expansion to newer countries.
India Honey Production and Export:
- India started its first organized exports in the year 1996-97.
- At present, India’s natural honey exports are majorly dependent on one market - the United States, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the exports.
- India exported 59,999 metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey worth Rs. 716 crore (US $ 96.77 million) during 2020-21, with the United States taking a major share at 44,881 MT. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and Canada were the other top destinations for Indian honey.
- North East Region and Maharashtra are the key areas for natural honey production in the country. Around 50% of the honey produced in India is consumed domestically and the rest is exported across the globe. Honey exports have huge potential and especially in the COVID19 pandemic as its consumption has gone up globally as an effective immunity booster and a healthier alternative to sugar.
Government Support:
- The Government of India approved allocation of Rs 500 crore for the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23).
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
- Keeping in view the importance of beekeeping as part of the Integrated Farming System in the country, government approved the allocation for Rs. 500 crore for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23) under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
- The mission was announced as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme. NBHM aims for the overall promotion & development of scientific beekeeping in the country to achieve the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution’ which is being implemented through National Bee Board (NBB).
- Objective:To promote holistic growth of beekeeping industry for income & employment generation for farm and non-farm households, to enhance agriculture/ horticulture production, developing infrastructural facilities, including setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC)s/CoE, honey testing labs, bee disease diagnostic labs, custom hiring centres, Api-therapy centres, nucleus stock, bee breeders, etc. and empowerment of women through beekeeping.
World Honey Production and Export:
- World honey exported in 2020 is 736,266.02 MT. India ranks 8th and 9th in the world in honey producing and exporting countries respectively.
- The world honey production in 2019 was 1721 thousand metric tonnes. This includes honey from all nectar sources, agricultural plants, wild flowers and forest trees. China, Turkey, Canada, Argentina, Iran and USA are among the major honey-producing countries, accounting for 50% of total world production.
Challenges
Domestic
- Ensuring need based training & up-skilling
- Training on financial services, credit facilities
- Strengthening of handholding support on seasonal management and migration
- Need on awareness on quality standards
- Formalising market linkages and branding
- Convergence with the existing schemes for FPO building and cluster-based approach.
Exports
- Higher freight cost
- Limited availability of containers in peak honey export season
- Higher Nuclear Magnetic Resonance test costs(used to test for adulterations and other manipulations)
- Inadequate export incentives.
Way Forward:
- Renegotiating the duty structure imposed by various countries for boosting honey exports.
- Facilitating producers in accessing export markets besides availing government assistance under different schemes, quality certification and lab testing.
- Besides this efforts should be boosted to address higher freight cost, limited containers in peak honey export season, higher Nuclear Magnetic Resonance test costs and inadequate export incentives.
- Exploring newer honey export destinations in the world like European Union ,United Kingdom and South East Asia
Source: PIB
