Parliament Question: Support for Honey Production in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2743 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04TH AUGUST,2026 SUPPORT FOR HONEY PRODUCTION IN WEST BENGAL 2743. SHRI ISHA KHAN CHOUDHURY: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण मं(cid:287)ी be pleased to state (a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of farmers and beekeepers in Malda district of West Bengal are engaged in Honey production as a source of livelihood, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government has assessed the difficulties faced by these beekeepers due to the absence of a NABL-accredited Honey testing laboratory in Malda district for quality and purity certification; (c) whether the Government has any proposal to establish a Honey testing laboratory and a modern Honey processing and concentration plant in Malda district to enable local producers to test, process, value –add and market their Honey at better prices; (d) whether any financial assistance, subsidy or infrastructure support is available under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) or any other Central Government scheme for setting up such facilities in Malda district; and (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR) (a) : As per Horticulture Crops Statistics (2nd Advance Estimates 2025-26), 24.05 thousand MT of honey is produced in West Bengal including Malda district. State Government of West Bengal has informed that beekeeping is practiced in old Malda, Kaliachak and Ratua blocks of the district. (b) to (d): Rs. 101.43 lakhs was sanctioned to Indian Council of Agricultural Research - Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture (ICAR-CISH), Malda-West Bengal in 2021-22 for establishment of Mini Honey Testing Laboratory under National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM). The lab is functional. Local beekeepers send samples for antibiotic level and C3 & C4 content in honey. Department of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Government of West Bengal developed MSME- Cluster Development Program at Sahapur, Old Malda in 2015 with outlay of Rs. 1 crore for honey. In 2024-25, honey boxes and bee colonies were supported to 48 beekeepers with outlay of Rs. 7.68 lakh from Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in Malda district.(e): Under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), project based financial assistance is provided to eligible Implementing Agencies (IAs) forwarded by the Central/ State Nodal Agencies for setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centers (IBDCs), honey testing labs, bee disease diagnostic labs, Quality Nucleus Stock Development Centre, bee breeders, Human Resources Development (HRD)/ capacity building, technology demonstration, empowerment of women through Beekeeping etc. NBHM also supports marketing, branding, value addition and Research & Development. Since 2021-22, NBHM has supported 21 projects in West Bengal with outlay of Rs 16.13 crore. *****