The Arunachal Pradesh Gazette
EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 249, Vol. XXXIII, Naharlagun, Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Bhadra 10, 1948 (Saka)
GOVERNMENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
CIVIL SECRETARIAT
ITANAGAR
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NOTIFICATION
The 1st September, 2026
No. AGRI/2/2025.— Arunachal Pradesh Apiculture and Honey Policy (AAHP)
1. Preamble :
Arunachal Pradesh, endowed with rich biodiversity, vast forest cover and diverse native honey bee species, holds immense potential for sustainable apiculture and honey production. In addition to producing honey and other items with significant nutritional, medicinal and commercial value, Honeybees play a critical role in biodiversity conservation and agricultural production through pollination.
However, habitat degradation, declining forest cover, unregulated pesticide use, climate change and unsustainable extraction practices pose a serious threat to honeybee populations. Recognizing the ecological and economic importance of bees and following the announcement made in the State Budget 2025-26, the Government of Arunachal Pradesh hereby notifies the Arunachal Pradesh Apiculture and Honey Policy (AAHP). This Policy seeks to conserve native bee species, promote scientific and sustainable beekeeping, enhance farmers income and establish Arunachal Pradesh as a leading state for quality honey and allied products in India and beyond.
2. Vision :
To conserve and enhance honey bee diversity, promote sustainable and scientific apiculture and position Arunachal Pradesh as a hub of organic and high-quality honey production for ecological sustainability, farmer prosperity and rural entrepreneurship.
3. Objectives :
• Conservation of native honey bee species and their habitats as part of the State's rich natural heritage.
• Strengthening crop production by improving pollination to ensure higher yields and better- quality produce while maintaining harmony between crops production and nature.
• Encouraging bee keepers to explore and adopt modern, sustainable methods and equipment for better and efficient as well as safer harvesting while ensuring minimum harm to the bee population.
• Promotion and Development of apiculture as a viable agro-based industry to generate livelihoods option with more opportunities for women and youth while encouraging local entrepreneurship in the spirit of "Vocals for locals" across the state.
• Establishing Arunachal Pradesh honey as a premium brand by ensuring quality, traceability, eco-friendly production and market promotion in both national and international markets.
• Strengthening and expanding research, training and education in apiculture, tailored to the unique ecological conditions and cultural traditions of Arunachal Pradesh so that science and indigenous knowledge can go hand in hand.
• Promotion and positioning of bee keeping as a climate smart and resilient, low carbon livelihood option which not only sustains the community income but also enhance resilience and adapt the changing weather patterns while strengthening biodiversity conservation.
2 The Arunachal Pradesh Extraordinary Gazette, September 1, 2026
4. Guiding Principles :
• Promote apiculture practices that ensure long-term ecological balance, economic viability and
social well-being, creating a truly sustainable livelihood model.
• Fostering active participation of farmers, SHG's, FPO's and tribal communities in all aspects of
beekeeping from planning to implementation, to build ownership and strengthen local capacity.
• Encouragement of modern scientific techniques in apiculture while integrating and respecting
traditional knowledge and local practices, ensuring innovation complements heritage wisdom.
• Strengthening the integration of bee keeping with agriculture, forestry, horticulture, sericulture
and other rural development initiatives to create synergistic benefits, enhance productivity and
improve community resilience.
• Promotion of inclusiveness and equity in apiculture development, with prioritization on small
and marginal farmers, women and youth, ensuring that opportunities are widely accessible
and contribute to social empowerment.
5. Key Strategies
5.1. Conservation and Sustainable Use:
• Identification, documentation and conservation of native honey bee species such as
Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis flore and stingless bees to safeguard local pollinator
diversity.
• Notification and conservation of bee-foraging plants while encouraging planting of
nectar and pollen-rich flora to enhance forage availability and ecosystem health.
• Promotion of bee-friendly farming systems that support pollinators and discourage the
indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides, ensuring sustainable practices.
5.2. Capacity Building and Awareness :
• Conduct State-wide awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of honey bees
for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and agriculture productivity.
• Train native honey collectors, with special focus on Apis dorsata honey hunters, for
safe, efficient and scientific harvesting practices.
• Integrate apiculture modules into Schools and University curricular to enhance
knowledge, skills and interest among the next generation of bee keepers.
5.3. Research, Technology and Extension :
• Establishment of dedicated Apiculture Research and Training Centers in collaboration with ICAR, Universities and reputed institutes to advance knowledge, innovation and skill development.
• Encouraging applied research on native bees, disease management and adapting strategies suitable for Arunachal Pradesh's diverse climatic zones.
• Research and Identification, of native honey bee for domestication, cultivation, production, pollination and nutritional and medicinal uses.
• Explore and identify commercially important and ecologically suitable non-native bee breed which do interfere local bee habitat for its introduction.
• Development of extension services through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK's) and State Departments to ensure effective dissemination of technologies, best practices and advisory support to bee keepers.
5.4 Production and Entrepreneurship Development :
• Support the establishment of apiaries, bee villages and bee keeper cooperatives to strengthen community based production and collective enterprises.
• Encourage the adoption of modern bee keeping technologies and best management practices to improve quality, productivity and sustainability.
• Promote the migration of bee colonies across crop seasons to enhance honey yield, optimize pollination services and increase farm productivity.
5.5 Value Addition and Market Linkages :
• Establish honey collection, processing, grading and packaging units in major producing districts to enhance the value chain and improve product quality.
• Implement traceability mechanisms to ensure purity, quality, safety and compliance with food standards to build consumer trust.
• Branding "Arunachal Honey" as a premium organic product with GI tagging, export promotion and e-commerce support, enhancing market visibility and farmers income.
5.6. Institutional Framework and Convergence :
The Arunachal Pradesh Extraordinary Gazette, September 1, 2026 3• Transform the Arunachal Pradesh Apiculture and Honey Policy into the Arunachal Pradesh Bee and Honey Mission (ABHM) to provide structured, mission mode implementation, coordination and oversight.
• State level inter departmental committee to facilitate collaboration and coordination among departments, agencies and stake holders ensuring streamed lined planning and execution.
• Ensuring convergence with National Missions and schemes such as MIDH, NBHM, NBB, MSME, KVIB to leverage technical support, funding and capacity development opportunities.
5.7. Incentives and Support :
• Provide financial assistance, subsidies and incentives to encourage the adoption of scientific and sustainable bee keeping.
• Support women and youth entrepreneurs through targeted startup schemes, fostering inclusive participation and enterprise development.
• Facilitate access to insurance and credit support for bee keepers to reduce risks and strengthen livelihood security.
6. Legal and Regulatory Framework :
• Enforce standards for hive equipment, honey quality and ethical apiculture practices to ensure safety, reliability and market credibility.
• Ensure compliance with environmental laws, biodiversity protection norms and organic farming guidelines.
• Maintain a comprehensive registry of bee keepers and honey enterprises to facilitate monitoring, targeted support and traceability throughout the value chain.
7. Institutional arrangement for Implementation and Monitoring :
• A State Level Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for overall guidance and over sight policy implementation.
• Agriculture Department will serve as the Nodal Department to coordinate with all stake holders for effective implementation of the policy.
• District level committees will facilitate planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring at the grassroots level ensuring local engagement and responsiveness.
• Periodic evaluation and mid-term reviews to maintain accountability, track progress whilst enabling continuous improvement.
8. Expected Outcomes :
• Conservation of native bee diversity and restoration of pollinator habitats.
• Increased crop yield and productivity through enhanced pollination.
• Creation of sustainable rural livelihoods including women/youth led apiculture enterprises.
• Establishment of Arunachal Pradesh as a leading producer of high quality and premium organic honey.
• Contribution to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and increased farmers income.
9. Conclusion :
• The Arunachal Pradesh Apiculture and Honey Policy (AAHP) recognizes honey bees as a vital component of ecological balance and drivers of rural livelihoods. By promoting scientific, climate resilient, sustainable and inclusive apiculture, the policy envisions a future where Arunachal Pradesh's honey not only becomes a symbol of purity and quality but also strengthens biodiversity, supports resilient communities and generates sustainable economic opportunities for farmers, women and youths across the State.
Samuel Changkija, IFS Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Civil Secretariat, Itanagar.
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Published and printed by Directorate of Printing and Stationery, Naharlagun.-626/2026-DoP-250+Dir. (Agri)-200-9-2026.