Honey and beekeeping have a long history in India. Honey was the first sweet food tasted by the ancient Indian inhabiting rock shelters and forests. The raw materials for the beekeeping industry are mainly pollen and nectar that come from flowering plants. Both the natural and cultivated vegetation in India constitute immense potential for the development of beekeeping. About 500 flowering plant species, both wild and cultivated, are useful as major or minor sources of nectar and pollen. As per MoAFW-2023, India’s total production of honey was 142 thousand MT.
Varieties:
Rapeseed / Mustard Honey, Eucalyptus Honey, Lychee Honey, Sunflower Honey, Karanj / Pongamea Honey, Multi-flora Himalayan Honey, Acacia Honey, Wild Flora Honey, Multi and Mono floral Honey are some of the major varieties of Natural Honey.
Areas of Production:
Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%) and Rajasthan (9%) (Source:MoAFW)
India Facts and Figures:
The country has exported Natural Honey to the world during the year 2023-24 as is in below table.
| Export Volume FY24 (MT) | Exported in FY24 (USD Mil) | |
| Natural Honey | 107963.21 | 177.52 |
Major Export Destinations (2023-24) : U.S.A, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Libya. (Source: DGCI&S)