APEDA holds international organic buyer-seller meet in Tripura to boost exports
New Delhi, Aug 14
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has organised an international organic buyer-seller meet in Tripura aimed at connecting the state's organic producers and farmer groups with overseas buyers and expanding export opportunities, an official statement said on Friday.
According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the event -- held in Agartala in collaboration with the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency (TSOFDA) and the state's Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare -- brought together around 200 participants, including more than 20 international buyers from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Greece and Argentina.
In addition, the programme also saw participation from 27 exporters, 96 farmers representing 22 farmer producer organisations and farmer producer companies, and officials from various government departments, it added.
The meet was designed to facilitate direct interactions between farmers, producer groups, exporters and international buyers, enabling discussions on sourcing opportunities, market requirements and potential business partnerships.
As part of the event, 12 exhibition stalls showcased Tripura's organic and naturally produced agricultural products, including Queen Pineapple, GI-tagged Kalikhasa Rice, organic ginger and turmeric, black sesame, jackfruit and scented lemon.
APEDA said the platform is expected to help generate new business linkages, support long-term sourcing partnerships and improve market access for farmers in the northeastern state.
Tripura Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath, who attended the event, said the state's farmers produce quality organic products with strong potential in domestic and international markets and emphasised the importance of strengthening market linkages for farmers and producer groups.
The programme was also attended by Tripura Agriculture and Horticulture Secretary Apurba Roy, IFOAM Organics Asia Executive Director Jennifer Chang and senior APEDA officials.
The event included the felicitation of organic farmers for their contribution to the state's organic farming sector and sustainable agricultural value chains.
APEDA said it continues to work with state governments, farmer producer organisations and exporters to strengthen India's organic exports ecosystem through certification support, capacity building, infrastructure development, market promotion and international buyer engagement.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Happy to see our organic farmers getting global recognition. This will definitely help our small farmers get better prices than selling in local mandis. I hope this isn't just a one-time PR event - the government should organize such meets regularly, especially for the northeastern states.
Great initiative! As someone who has tasted Indian organic produce, I can say there's a huge demand for these authentic products in international markets. The GI-tagged Kalikhasi Rice is particularly unique. Hopefully, this helps our farmers get fair trade along with good prices.
This is good news, but we need to ensure that organic certification actually translates to premium prices for the original farmers, not just the middlemen. Many times, farmers don't get their due share. Let's hope APEDA's certification and training programs address this issue. 🤞
Good to see the government pushing for organic exports from the Northeast. However, I hope this isn't just about marketing and they focus on building proper infrastructure - cold storage, logistics, and processing facilities - which are the real bottlenecks for our perishable produce. 🌿
This is a fantastic step towards showcasing India's Northeast organic treasure. The participation of buyers from countries like Germany and Italy - which have strict quality standards - validates the quality of Tripura's produce. Proud of our farmers! 🇮🇳
V We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.