Financial protection for beekeepers against colony death from disease (EFB, AFB, Nosema), cyclone, flood, fire, and bear attacks on hive boxes. A Probitas Insurance Brokers rural product — NBB, KVIC Honey Mission & NABARD scheme eligible. Per-box reimbursement. 12-month policy.
Rural Insurance
Honey Bee Insurance is a specialised rural insurance product by Probitas Insurance Brokers Ltd. (the insurer) providing financial protection to beekeepers (apiculturists) against the death or destruction of honey bee colonies in insured bee boxes due to disease, natural disasters, and other covered perils. Practised across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and the Northeast — a single disease outbreak or cyclone can destroy an entire apiary in hours. Linked to NBB, KVIC Honey Mission, and NABARD schemes. Probitas Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. (IRDAI Lic. No. 528) is your licensed broker.
Indian Honey Bee — native, disease-resistant, smaller colonies, ₹2,000–₹3,000/box
Italian / European Honey Bee — higher honey yield, commercially dominant, ₹3,500–₹5,000/box
Seasonal migratory beekeeping — boxes moved to different floral locations; prior notification required
Single reproductive female — her death causes colony collapse; queen loss is a named scheduled benefit
Beekeepers registered under the National Bee Board (NBB), KVIC National Honey Mission, NABARD Beekeeping Development Fund, and state Horticulture / Agriculture Department beekeeping schemes may avail of premium subsidies. In scheme-linked policies, the insurance premium is often included as a component of the per-box government subsidy package — the government pays the premium directly to the insurer and the beekeeper pays only the balance (if any). Contact Probitas on 022 4302 0000 to check your scheme eligibility.
Who Can Apply
Per box basis: No. of insured bee boxes × declared market value per box (queen + workers + brood + comb) — as per the insurer / NBB rate schedule.
Typical values:
Apis cerana indica: ₹2,000–₹3,000 per box
Apis mellifera: ₹3,500–₹5,000 per box
Maximum boxes per apiary: as per the insurer schedule — typically 50–200 boxes per apiary location.
Each insured bee box must carry a unique serial number (painted or stamped) as per NBB norms — matching the policy schedule at inception. Boxes without identification numbers are not insurable and claims for unnumbered boxes will not be settled. Number your boxes before applying for insurance.
Bear attacks on apiaries are a real and documented cause of hive destruction in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. Under the comprehensive plan, bear / honey badger attacks causing hive destruction are covered — subject to certification by the insurer's surveyor or the State Forest Department. Keep a record of bear activity near your apiary.
Plan Comparison
Compare disease cover, natural disaster cover, and comprehensive (with animal attack) plans under the insurer Honey Bee Insurance. All plans are priced per bee box colony.
| Points of Difference | Disease Cover | Natural Disaster | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Foulbrood (EFB) — certified | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| American Foulbrood (AFB) — certified | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Sacbrood Virus, Chalk Brood, Nosema | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Varroa Mite — certified colony collapse | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Cyclone, Typhoon, Storm, Hailstorm | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Flood, Inundation — colony drowning | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Wildfire / Forest Fire / Accidental Fire | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Lightning, Earthquake, Landslide | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Bear / Badger Animal Attack (Hill States) | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Falling Tree / Tractor Collision Damage | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Queen Bee Death / Colony Collapse | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| NBB / KVIC / NABARD Scheme Eligible | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Claim Unit | Per bee box | Per bee box | Per bee box |
| Compulsory Excess | ₹500–₹1,000 | ₹500–₹1,000 | ₹500–₹1,000 |
| Apiculture Dept. Certification | Mandatory | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Premium Level | Base | Base | Higher |
Coverage Under Honey Bee Insurance
The policy covers colony death from disease, natural disasters, and accidental / animal attack causes. All claims require certification by the State Agriculture / Horticulture Department apiculture inspector. Notify within 48 hours of observing colony death.
If you observe colony death or disease symptoms in your bee boxes, call Probitas on 022 4302 0000 immediately — within 48 hours. Do NOT destroy, burn, or chemically treat affected colonies before the apiculture inspector visits — except under the special AFB emergency protocol below. Photograph all affected boxes immediately as evidence for your claim.
American Foulbrood (AFB) spreads extremely rapidly and can destroy adjacent boxes within days. As an exception, the insured may destroy AFB-affected colonies with prior telephonic approval from Probitas and the insurer — provided:
All colony death and disease claims must be certified by the State Agriculture / Horticulture Department apiculture inspector or an NBB-authorised inspector — confirming: cause of death (disease / disaster / accident), number of bee boxes affected, and colony condition at time of inspection. Self-certification by the insured or a neighbour is not accepted. The insurer may additionally appoint their own apiculture specialist.
How Claims Are Calculated
Claim = (No. of bee boxes lost × Declared value per box) − Compulsory Excess
Number of boxes lost is determined by the Apiculture Dept. inspector's certification. Declared value per box is fixed at inception and stated in the policy schedule.
Standard deductible: ₹500–₹1,000 per claim or 5% of sum insured (as per policy schedule at inception). Government scheme policies: nil / reduced deductible.
This policy covers the colony loss only (the live bee colony — queen, workers, brood, comb). The value of the honey produce / honey harvest is not covered. If you need to insure your honey produce in storage or transit, a separate product is required.
If you are a migratory beekeeper who moves bee boxes seasonally to different floral locations, notify Probitas before each movement (022 4302 0000). Coverage continues at the new location subject to prior notification. Uninformed movement may void coverage for colonies at the new location during the uninformed period.
The declared market value per bee box is agreed at policy inception and stated in the policy schedule — based on the the insurer / NBB rate schedule for your species and region. This value is used to calculate all claims. Choose a realistic current market value per colony at inception — not inflated — to avoid premium over-payment and claim disputes.
| Parameter | EFB Disease — 20 Boxes Lost (Apis mellifera) | Cyclone — Total Apiary Loss (Apis cerana) | Bear Attack — Hill State (Partial) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Apis mellifera | Apis cerana indica | Apis mellifera |
| Total Boxes Insured | 50 boxes | 35 boxes | 30 boxes |
| Declared Value per Box | ₹ 4,000 | ₹ 3,000 | ₹ 4,500 |
| Total Sum Insured | ₹ 2,00,000 | ₹ 1,05,000 | ₹ 1,35,000 |
| Cause of Loss | EFB — certified by Apiculture Dept. | Cyclone — total apiary destruction | Bear attack — Forest Dept. certified |
| No. of Boxes Lost (certified) | 20 boxes | 35 boxes (all) | 12 boxes |
| Gross Claim (Boxes × Value) | ₹ 80,000 | ₹ 1,05,000 | ₹ 54,000 |
| Compulsory Excess | ₹ 2,000 | ₹ 2,000 | ₹ 2,000 |
| Claim Payable | ₹ 78,000 | ₹ 1,03,000 | ₹ 52,000 |
* Illustrative only. Actual settlement depends on Apiculture Dept. certified number of boxes lost, declared value per box at inception, and policy schedule excess. All disease claims require inspector certification; bear attack claims require Forest Dept. / surveyor certification.
Policy Conditions
The following 12 conditions are binding under the the insurer Honey Bee Insurance Policy. Box serial numbering (Condition 1) and the AFB emergency protocol (Condition 5) are uniquely important to this product.
Box Numbering Mandatory: Each insured bee box must carry a unique serial number (painted / stamped) as per NBB norms at inception. Numbers must match the policy schedule. Unnumbered boxes are not insurable and claims for them will not be settled.
Declaration at Inception: Number of bee boxes (with serial numbers), species (Apis cerana / Apis mellifera), apiary location (GPS / village / district), and declared value per box must be stated at inception.
Inspection at Inception: The insurer may conduct an apiary inspection at or before inception to verify colony strength and absence of pre-existing disease. Colonies with pre-existing disease are not eligible.
Notification within 48 Hours: The insured must notify Probitas (022 4302 0000) within 48 hours of observing colony death / disease symptoms. Do NOT destroy, burn, or treat affected colonies before inspection (except AFB emergency protocol).
AFB Exception — Emergency Protocol: For American Foulbrood (AFB) ONLY — call Probitas first, get telephonic approval, take photos / samples, THEN destroy affected colonies to prevent spread. All four steps must be followed in sequence.
Apiculture Dept. Inspection Required: All colony death claims must be certified by the State Agriculture / Horticulture Dept. apiculture inspector or NBB-authorised inspector. Self-certification not accepted.
Migratory Beekeeping: Beekeepers who move boxes seasonally must notify Probitas of the new apiary location before movement. Coverage continues at new location after prior notification. Uninformed movement may void coverage at the new location.
Disease Prevention Obligation: The insured must follow standard disease prevention practices recommended by NBB / State Agriculture Dept. Claims arising from failure to follow basic disease management may be reduced or voided.
Government Scheme Policies: For policies under NBB / KVIC / NABARD / state schemes, the balance premium (if any) must be paid before cover commences. Non-payment voids cover.
Maximum Boxes per Apiary: As per the insurer schedule — typically 50–200 boxes per apiary location. For larger apiaries, additional locations may be declared as separate policy units.
Subrogation: On settlement of any claim (including pesticide poisoning by a neighbour), all rights of recovery against responsible third parties automatically transfer to the insurer.
Policy Period — 12 Months: Standard 12-month policy covering one beekeeping year. At renewal — colony count, box serial numbers, and apiary location must be re-declared. Destroyed / lost boxes must be removed from the renewal proposal.
How to File a Claim
Honey bee disease claims require Apiculture Department inspector certification. AFB claims have a special emergency protocol. Notify Probitas within 48 hours of observing colony death. Call 022 4302 0000 — we assist at every stage.
Call Probitas on 022 4302 0000 within 48 hours of observing colony death or disease symptoms. Photograph all affected boxes immediately. Do NOT destroy hives before inspection — except AFB (call first for approval, then destroy). For natural disasters: notify immediately after the event.
The State Agriculture / Horticulture Dept. apiculture inspector (or NBB-authorised inspector) visits the apiary and certifies: number of bee boxes / colonies destroyed, cause of death (disease / disaster / accident), and colony condition. For bear attack: Forest Dept. certification needed. Insurer may also appoint own apiculture specialist.
Submit: Claim Form, Policy doc, list of insured box serial numbers, Apiculture Dept. certification report, laboratory test report (disease claims — EFB/AFB/Nosema), photographs / video of dead colonies and destroyed hive boxes, Beekeeping Licence, purchase receipts for bee boxes, and bank details.
Claim = (No. of boxes lost × Declared value per box) − Compulsory Excess. Standard excess: ₹500–₹1,000 or 5% of SI. Government scheme: nil / reduced excess. Payment by NEFT within 30 days of complete documentation per IRDAI TAT norms.
Common Questions about Honey Bee Insurance
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