Archive · 14 Sep 2025
Kashmir's Thriving Beekeeping Industry: From Tradition to Boom
Imagine bees buzzing around beautiful fields in Kashmir!
Beekeeping, which used to be a small job, has become a big business.
Young people are starting their own beekeeping farms and making a lot of money.
The government is helping by offering money and training.
Kashmir's honey is special because it comes from unique flowers and is made in a clean way.
This helps it sell for a high price both at home and around the world.
Beekeepers sometimes have to move their bees to warmer places in the winter.
Climate change and cutting down trees are also challenges.
Bees also help farmers grow more fruits, making the region even richer.
Kashmir's beekeeping industry is booming, transforming into a ₹500 crore enterprise.
Honey production has doubled in five years, with colonies increasing significantly.
J&K's honey is prized for its purity, rare floral sources, and high prices in domestic and international markets.
Government subsidies and training programs are accelerating the industry's growth.
Beekeeping is also boosting agriculture, as bees improve fruit yields through pollination.
- Who
- Kashmiri beekeepers, including young entrepreneurs like Sania Zehra
- What
- The apiculture (beekeeping) industry in Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing significant growth.
- When
- Over the past five years (FY19-FY25), the industry has seen a doubling in production and a rise in beekeeping units.
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir, with exports to countries like Canada and China.
- Why
- Government support, high-quality honey, and the use of modern beekeeping techniques have fueled the boom.
- Industry Value
- ₹500 crore
- Honey Production (FY25)
- 27,092 quintals
- Beekeeping Units (FY19)
- 132,000
- Beekeeping Units (FY25)
- 227,000
- Income for Beekeepers
- ₹3 lakh to ₹20 lakh annually
- Honey Production Value
- ₹135 crore (2024-25)