N
The Daily Insight

Is honey bee farming profitable in India?

Author

John Peck

Updated on April 04, 2026

The beekeeping business is one of the most profitable businesses in India. Most people are afraid of honey bees, and why not? These tiny stingers make us cry when they sting but did you know these little four-winged creatures are a blessing of nature and produce the best of sweet things called ‘honey’.

How much honey does a beehive produce in India?

They produce about half a kg of honey each year per hive. Same to Indian bees, European or Italian bees also construct parallel combs and are bigger than all other honeybees except the rock bees. The normal production of honey per colony is 25-40 kg every year.

Which state is the largest producer of honey in India?

Notes: Punjab is the major state in beekeeping in the nation, with around 35,000 beekeepers delivering around 15,000 metric tonnes of honey. This is more than 39% of the nation’s total honey production.

How much does it cost to start a bee farm in India?

“A person can start a beekeeping business for as low as Rs 20,000,” says Jayakumar, adding that a box of Indian bees costs around Rs 2,000, while one of Italian bees costs Rs 7,500.

How much money can you make selling honey in India?

It depends on the various brands. You will get a yield of 40 kg per box. In case, you sell the honey for 100 rupees, then you will get a total of 40 x 100 = 4000 rupees.

How can I sell my honey in India?

Business requirements & Regulations. Before you purchase a single item or even a bee as a Natural Honey Manufacturer, you have to ensure the local ordinances permit beekeeping. You also have to check for any required license for harvesting, bottling, and selling honey.

What is the price of honey per kg?

According to new reports from the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, Aussie beekeepers produce somewhere between 25,000 and 35,000 tonnes of honey each year, and the farm gate price for honey is currently sitting at around $3.70 and $4 per kilogram.

Is Patanjali honey pure honey?

While noting that honey-making is a heavy capital and machinery-driven industry, Balkrishna said, “we make 100 per cent natural honey which tested pure on more than 100 standards laid down by the FSSAI for honey”.

Which place is famous for honey in India?

West Bengal is one of the leading states in honey production. West Bengal and Punjab are leading together being major honey producers in India.

Is honey a profitable business?

Natural, local honey can sell for much more than the stuff in grocery stores. It depends on your location, but it’s safe to say that you can charge $10 per pound. That puts you at a profit of $600 per beehive, per year.

Is beekeeping taxable in India?

Bee keeping is an organized activity, it does not invlove agricultural by way of cultivation of land, hence income will be taxable as busienss income.

Why beekeeping in India is a growing trend?

Beekeeping in India is a growing trend. Honey bee farming in India can be done as a stand alone commercial honey bee farm or can be integrated with crops to increase the crop yield and get additional income from honey.

How much honey is produced in India each year?

Compared to 2005-06 honey production has risen by 242% and exports shot by 265%. As per Food and Agricultural Organization database, in 2017-18, India ranked eighth in the world in terms of honey production (64.9 thousand tonnes) while China stood first with a production level of 551 thousand tonnes.

Where do Indian beekeepers get their honey from?

Indian beekeepers receive 2/3 of honey from wild honey plants, among which an important places are occupied by acacia and eucalyptus. Recently, the demand for pollination of crops by bees, including rape, mustard and sunflower, increases.

How many species of bees are found in India?

Five species of bees that are commercially important for natural honey and beeswax production are found in India. Bees, honey and beekeeping have been mentioned in various Hindu Vedic scriptures of India like Rig Veda, Atharva Veda, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Markandeya Purana, Raj Nighantu, Bharat Samhita, Arthashastra, and Amar Kosha.