Assam sends first-ever commercial export of dairy products to Bhutan
Guwahati, July 28
The Assam government on Tuesday achieved a major milestone in its dairy sector with the state's first-ever commercial export of dairy products to a foreign country, as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off a consignment of 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium ice cream to neighbouring Bhutan.
The export, facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), marks the maiden international shipment of dairy products from Assam and is expected to open new overseas market opportunities for the state's dairy farmers.
The consignment, produced by West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Limited (WAMUL) under the Purabi Dairy brand, includes premium ice cream in flavours such as butterscotch, chocolate, choco chips, strawberry, mango, and vanilla. The products will be marketed across major Bhutanese cities, including Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing.
Officials said the initiative directly links thousands of dairy farmers in Assam to international markets, as the milk used for manufacturing the ice cream is sourced through Purabi Dairy's cooperative network across the state. Marketing of Purabi products is handled by North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL).
Speaking after flagging off the consignment at Janata Bhawan, Sarma said the achievement reflects the success of sustained efforts by the state government over the last five years to strengthen Assam's dairy sector.
He said Assam currently processes around 2.5 lakh litres of milk every day to manufacture a range of dairy products and expressed confidence that exports of ice cream and other value-added dairy products to Bhutan would continue regularly.
The Chief Minister said the state government's initiatives, coupled with infrastructure expansion, have enabled Assam to enter international dairy markets for the first time. Purabi Dairy's expansion has been supported by the World Bank-funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), which helped enhance its daily milk processing capacity from 60,000 litres to 1.5 lakh litres.
APEDA, under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, assisted NEDFL in completing export documentation, regulatory clearances, and other formalities required for the international shipment.
The state Cooperation Minister Kaushik Rai, along with senior officials and other dignitaries, attended the flag-off programme.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great news but I wonder about the pricing—will the farmers actually benefit or will middlemen take the lion's share? Hope the state government ensures fair price to the dairy farmers who supply the milk. Still, a good first step towards 'Atmanirbhar Assam'.
My mother used to work with a dairy cooperative in Karnataka—this reminds me of how local dairies can actually compete if given the right support. Assam's Purabi now exporting to Bhutan is quite something. Maybe next stop: Bangladesh or Nepal? 👏
As someone from Bhutan who visits Assam often, this is wonderful news! Bhutanese love Indian ice cream, especially the mango and chocolate flavours. I've tried Purabi before and it's quite good. This trade will strengthen our ties beyond just geopolitics. 🍨
While I appreciate the milestone, we should also focus on improving cold storage and logistics within Assam itself. I've seen dairy farmers in rural areas struggle with milk spoilage during summer. Exports are good but let's not forget the basics at home first.
Butterscotch ice cream from Assam to Bhutan... I never thought I'd read that sentence! 😄 Jokes aside, this is the kind of success story we need in the Northeast—showing that local products can compete internationally. Congrats to the WAMUL team.
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