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Subject: Allied SectorXHorticulture

  • 76% of India’s Honey Exports Depend on One Market

    Why in the News

    India is the 2nd largest honey producer and 3rd largest exporter by value. However, around 76% of exports go to the U.S., while India’s honey has a relatively low unit value of about $1,858/tonne.

    What is Apiculture?

    • Apiculture is the scientific rearing of honey bees in artificial hives for honey, hive products and pollination.
      • Apis mellifera: Italian bee
      • Apis cerana indica: Indian hive bee
      • Apis dorsata: Rock bee
      • Apis florea: Little bee
    • Products include honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen and bee venom.

    Key Facts

    • Production: ~76,000 tonnes (2013-14) → ~1.51 lakh tonnes (2025-26)
    • India: 2nd largest producer globally
    • ~70% production exported
    • U.S.: ~76% of India’s honey exports
    • Pollination: Bees contribute to 87 of 115 major food crops.
    • Domestic consumption: only ~37 g/person/year

    What is NMR Testing?

    • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) testing analyses the molecular profile of honey to detect: Added sugar syrups, Botanical origin, and Geographical origin. It is increasingly important for accessing premium export markets.

    Major Challenges

    • Adulteration: Sugar syrup contamination
    • Limited NMR testing infrastructure
    • Pesticide and antibiotic residue concerns
    • Heavy dependence on the U.S. market
    • Low-value bulk exports
    • Weak traceability and branding
    • Competition from China and premium brands such as New Zealand’s Manuka honey

    Way Forward

    • Expand NMR-capable laboratories
    • Develop cluster-based processing and packaging
    • Promote GI-tagged honey
    • Strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
    • Diversify into beeswax, propolis and royal jelly
    • Strengthen the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission
    • Promote domestic honey consumption
    • Protect bee health through scientific beekeeping and pesticide management

    “[2018, GS3, 15 marks] Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers?”

    [2023] Which of the following organisms perform waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food?

    [A] Butterflies

    [B] )Dragonflies

    [C] Honeybees

    [D] Wasps

  • Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers?

    The NHM was a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2005-06 to promote the holistic development of the horticulture sector through area-based, regionally differentiated strategies.

    Key Pillars of NHM

    Cluster based approach

    Supply of quality planting material through nurseries and tissue culture units.

    Improving production and productivity through area expansion and rejuvenation.

    Promoting and spreading modern technologies.

    Focussing on training and skill development.

    Infrastructure for post-harvest management and marketing.

    Role of NHM in boosting

    Production

    Horticulture production increased from 280.70 MT (2013-14) to 367.72 MT (2024-25) (Fruits: 114.51 MT, Vegetables: 219.67 MT)

    Fruit production increased by ~30%, and vegetable production increased by ~22%.

    Establishment of nurseries and tissue culture units ensured healthy, disease-free plants.

    Area-focused interventions increased scale and concentration of production.

    Crop diversification – Promotion of high-value and short-duration crops.

    Boost in Productivity

    The productivity has risen from 12.10 MT per hectare in 2019 to 12.56 MT per hectare in 2024

    Distribution of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties increased output per unit area.

    Technology dissemination – Promotion of drip irrigation, mulching, protected cultivation (polyhouse, net house).

    Farmers trained in scientific cultivation, pest control and nutrient management – improved efficiency.

    Reduced crop loss through improved plant health and management practices.

    Boost in Farmer Income

    Horticulture now contributes about 33% to Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) in Agriculture.

    High-value crops – Fruits, spices and flowers generate more income per hectare than cereals.

    Multiple cropping cycles of Vegetables and floriculture ensure regular cash flow.

    Post-harvest infrastructure – Cold storage, pack houses, grading and processing units reduce wastage and increase price realisation.

    Export potential –

    Employment generation – Jobs in nurseries, processing, transport and storage supplement household income.

    Challenges

    Uneven regional performance – Benefits concentrated in better-developed states/regions

    Low Exports – India ranks 14th in vegetables and 23rd in fruits, and its share in the global horticultural market is a mere 1%.

    Input issues –

    less than 5% of Indian soils have sufficient nitrogen

    Only 55% area irrigated.

    Seed replacement rate is 35-45% (over 90% in USA)

    Inadequate cold-chain and logistics – Around 15-20% of the fruits and vegetables in India are wasted

    Climate vulnerability – Sensitive to droughts, floods, heat waves, pests. Eg- Locust Attack

    Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) barriers – Eg- rejection of consignments by EU due to pesticide residue detection.

    Way Forward

    Agro-ecological approach – District-Level Climate-Contingent Crop Planning Cells

    Rural Agri-Logistics Nodes under Gati Shakti Framework to develop cold chains, aggregation centers

    Strengthening FPOs to enhance collective bargaining and direct market access for farmers. Eg- Sahyadri FPO in Maharashtra – increased incomes by 30%

    Raising R&D Investment to 1% of GDP

    Legal Reforms – Simplify land leasing laws, Adopt model contract farming Act

    Budget 2025-26 emphasised Agriculture as the ‘first engine’ for India’s development journey. Horticulture can be the key pillar of this journey.

    Farm Subsidy and Minimum Support Prices