About Honey
India is one of the world's leading honey producers and exporters. Beekeeping also raises crop yields through pollination, and the government promotes it under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission.
Where Honey Is Grown
The main growing states and districts are listed below. Tap a state for its markets, season, agencies and buyers.
| State | Main districts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur | A leading migratory beekeeping state. |
| Haryana | Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Ambala | Mustard and other honey. |
| Uttar Pradesh | Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut | Beekeeping hub. |
| Bihar | Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Samastipur | Litchi honey. |
| West Bengal | South 24 Parganas (Sundarbans), Nadia | Sundarbans wild honey. |
| Rajasthan | Bharatpur, Alwar, Sri Ganganagar | Mustard honey. |
How It Is Grown
Most commercial honey comes from Italian bee (Apis mellifera) colonies kept in wooden boxes and moved between flowering crops: mustard in winter, litchi in spring, sunflower, eucalyptus and others. Wild and forest honey is collected in the Sundarbans, Western Ghats and Northeast.
Season
Main flows: mustard (December–February), litchi (March–April), others through the year.
Uses and Buyers
Honey brands, food and pharmaceutical companies, Ayurvedic makers and exporters (mainly to the USA).
Quality and Price
Honey is tested for adulteration with sugar syrups, moisture and antibiotic residues; FSSAI and export standards apply.
Government Role
Honey has no minimum support price, so it is bought almost entirely by private traders, processors and exporters. Government support comes through horticulture and crop missions, market regulation, export promotion and research.
Companies, Markets and Bodies
- Dabur India LtdDabur HoneyAboutExplore
- Patanjali Ayurved LtdPatanjali HoneyAboutExplore
- Marico LtdSaffola HoneyAboutExplore
- National Bee BoardBeekeeping developmentAboutExplore
Related: All crops · All states
Names are listed for reference only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation. The About and Explore buttons open Google in a new tab; results there are generated by Google and third parties, not by this site. Prices, MSP, export rules and schemes change often. Nothing here is financial, legal or purchasing advice. Full disclaimer