Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand
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Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers

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A Uttarakhand government scheme giving farmers 40% subsidised bee boxes and bee colonies, ₹350 per colony for orchard beekeeping, and free seven-day training with a ₹1,050 stipend.

Funding amount
₹80 – ₹58,550 (grant)
Funding type
Grant
Provider
Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand (Government)
Application deadline
Rolling
Eligible stage
Any stage
Location
Open to startups registered in India

Overview

Beekeeping in Uttarakhand receives direct state backing through the Bee Keeping Scheme, implemented by the Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand. The programme treats honey production as more than a sideline: it is positioned as a dependable additional income stream for farming households, and it attacks the two biggest obstacles a new beekeeper faces — the price of equipment and the absence of hands-on know-how.

Support reaches farmers in three ways. First, they can buy bee boxes and bee colonies at a 40% subsidy, with the cost considered for subsidy capped at ₹2,000 per unit. Second, those who already own orchards and want colonies placed inside them can claim ₹350 for every colony. Third, anyone needing practical guidance can join a free seven-day training programme that also pays a stipend of ₹1,050.

Administration is handled locally through Horticulture Mobile Team Centres, which forward applications to the district office or the Jeolikote Centre for approval. There is no closing date — the scheme runs on a rolling basis and allotments are made first-come, first-served while the budget lasts. The overall aim is to lift honey output across the state and make farm incomes less dependent on a single crop.

Highlights

  • 40% subsidy on bee boxes and bee colonies, capped at ₹2,000 per unit
  • Up to 50 boxes in plain areas and up to 25 in hilly areas of Uttarakhand
  • ₹350 per colony for farmers who keep bees in their own orchards
  • Free seven-day beekeeping training with a ₹1,050 stipend
  • Rolling application window — no fixed deadline, allotted first-come, first-served
  • Maximum total benefit of ₹58,550 per beneficiary

Who can apply

The entry conditions for this scheme are deliberately narrow and simple, because it is built for working farmers rather than companies or technology ventures.

  • Residency: the applicant must be a resident of Uttarakhand.
  • Occupation and intent: the applicant must be a farmer who is interested in taking up beekeeping.

No company structure, incorporation, DPIIT recognition or MSME registration is prescribed anywhere in the scheme's conditions — the two points above are what decide who can apply. The scheme covers farmers in both plain and hilly areas of the state, though the quantity of bee boxes they can obtain differs by geography. No sector restriction, land-holding minimum or age limit is mentioned in the scheme details.

Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

Eligible stage
Any stage
Location
Open to startups registered in India

Deadline & timing

Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

What the funding covers

Subsidised bee boxes and colonies. The government bears 40% of the cost, with the maximum unit cost taken as ₹2,000. Where a bee box and colony together are priced at ₹200, for instance, the farmer deposits ₹120 and the state contributes ₹80. How many units a farmer can take depends on where they farm: up to 50 boxes in plain areas and up to 25 in hilly areas. For a farmer taking the full 50 units in a plain area, the subsidy value works out to about ₹40,000.

Assistance for colonies kept in your own orchard. A farmer who keeps bee colonies inside their own orchard is given ₹350 per colony. At the upper end of 50 colonies, that comes to ₹17,500.

Free training plus a stipend. The department runs a seven-day beekeeping training programme at no charge to the participant. Everyone who completes it receives a total of ₹1,050, made up of ₹100 per day plus ₹50 per day, intended to cover attendance and incidental expenses. The money is paid either directly in cash or through a bank transfer to the account the farmer has provided.

Adding the subsidy on boxes, the per-colony assistance and the training stipend, the maximum total benefit available to one beneficiary is ₹58,550, with individual benefits starting from as little as ₹80.

About the provider

Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers is offered by Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand, a government body. As a government-backed grant, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India.

How to apply

Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.

Selection process

Allotment of bee boxes and colonies is not a competition in the usual sense. It runs on a first-come, first-served basis, limited only by the budget and resources available in a given period.

  1. Application at the local level. The farmer files the form, along with identity and residence papers, at the nearest Horticulture Mobile Team Centre.
  2. Forwarding. The Centre passes the application to the district office or to the Jeolikote Centre.
  3. Review and approval. The application is examined against the eligibility conditions and against the scheme's capacity, so approval depends both on meeting the criteria and on funds still being available.
  4. Notification and collection. Approved farmers are informed by phone and issued an acceptance letter, after which they collect their bee boxes and colonies at the subsidised rate from the Jeolikote Centre or the designated district office.

Training follows a different route. A separate training application is submitted at the Horticulture Mobile Team Centre and forwarded to the district office. The department then waits until a group of 10-30 interested farmers has assembled in that district. Once the group exists, a training date is fixed and communicated to applicants by phone.

Documents you’ll need

Before you apply to Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers, keep the following documents ready:

  • A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
  • Company registration documents and PAN
  • Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
  • Recent financial statements or projections
  • Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

Who this is best for

Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹80 – ₹58,550. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is the Bee Keeping Scheme?

It is a grant-based programme run by the Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand, to encourage beekeeping among the state's farmers. It supplies subsidised bee boxes and bee colonies, pays per-colony assistance to farmers who keep bees in their own orchards, and runs free training. The larger purpose is to raise honey production in Uttarakhand and give farming families a second source of income.

How much funding can a farmer actually receive?

Benefits come in three parts. The subsidy on boxes and colonies is 40% of a maximum unit cost of ₹2,000. Farmers who keep colonies in their own orchards get ₹350 per colony, which reaches ₹17,500 for 50 colonies. Training participants receive a ₹1,050 stipend. Put together, the ceiling for a single beneficiary is ₹58,550, while the smallest individual subsidy starts at ₹80.

Who is eligible to apply?

Two conditions apply: you must be a resident of Uttarakhand, and you must be a farmer with an interest in beekeeping. Beyond that, the scheme does not lay down sector limits, entity requirements, land minimums or age limits. Both plain-area and hilly-area farmers can apply, though the number of boxes available to them differs.

Is DPIIT recognition or MSME registration required?

No. DPIIT startup recognition and MSME or Udyam registration do not feature among the scheme's conditions, and no particular business structure is prescribed. Eligibility rests on being a farmer who lives in Uttarakhand.

How much is the subsidy on a bee box and colony, and how many can I take?

The state pays 40% of the cost, and the cost considered for subsidy is capped at ₹2,000 per unit. If a bee box and colony together cost ₹200, the farmer pays ₹120 and the government covers ₹80. A farmer in a plain area can take up to 50 boxes, while one in a hilly area can take up to 25.

What is the ₹350 per colony assistance for?

It is meant for farmers who keep bee colonies within their own orchards. Each such colony earns the farmer ₹350, so a farmer maintaining 50 colonies in their orchard receives ₹17,500.

Is the beekeeping training free, and what stipend is paid?

The seven-day training is free of cost. Participants who attend the full programme receive ₹1,050 in total, calculated as ₹100 per day plus ₹50 per day, to cover attendance and incidental expenses. The amount is handed over in cash or credited to the farmer's bank account.

What is the deadline for applying?

There is no fixed deadline. The scheme runs on a rolling, always-open basis, and bee boxes and colonies are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis as long as the budget allows. Applying early therefore matters more than waiting for a notified date.

How and where do I apply?

Applications are made offline at your nearest Horticulture Mobile Team Centre. You need to submit a formal application along with your address, mobile number, Aadhaar card, residence certificate and bank account details. The Centre forwards your papers to the district office or the Jeolikote Centre for review. If approved, you are informed by phone and given an acceptance letter, after which you collect the boxes and colonies from the Jeolikote Centre or the designated district office at the subsidised rate. Training requires a separate application filed at the same Centre.

How are beneficiaries selected for the boxes and for training?

For bee boxes and colonies, approval follows a first-come, first-served order, subject to budget availability; applications are reviewed at the district or Jeolikote Centre after being forwarded by the Horticulture Mobile Team. For training, the department forms a group of 10-30 interested farmers in a district and then schedules a session, so training dates depend on enough local applicants coming forward.

Does the scheme take equity or a stake in my farm?

No. This is a subsidy and grant programme, not an investment, so it does not take equity, ownership or a share in your farm or business. The support comes as a reduced price on bee boxes and colonies, per-colony assistance and a training stipend.

Who offers Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers?

Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers is offered by Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttarakhand, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.

How do I apply for Bee Keeping Scheme — ₹80–₹58,550 Subsidy for Uttarakhand Farmers?

Apply directly through the official application link on this page. Review the eligibility criteria and prepare your startup documents before you begin.

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