GI-tagged 'Mithila Makhana' exported to Australia for 1st time: Piyush Goyal
New Delhi, Aug 8
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said that 18 metric tonnes of GI-tagged 'Mithila Makhana' was exported for the first time from Bihar to Australia via sea route.
The consignment, procured directly from farmers in Darbhanga, has provided them with nearly 18 per cent more profit compared to the market price, Goyal posted on social media platform X.
"India's GI-tagged Mithila Makhana has achieved another major milestone in the global market," said the minister.
With the support of APEDA, 18 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana was exported from Bihar to Australia.
Last month, India achieved a major milestone in agricultural exports by dispatching its first sea-based shipment of Bihar's renowned Makhana (fox nuts) to Canada.
The consignment of seven metric tonnes marked a significant step towards placing Bihar's premium farm produce on the global map and strengthening the country's value-added agricultural exports.
The shipment, facilitated through the efforts of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), was widely welcomed by exporters and farmers in the State.
Goyal highlighted the achievement in a post on X. "Another major achievement for the farmers of Bihar. Through the efforts of APEDA, seven metric tonnes of flavoured Makhana were exported from Darbhanga to Canada via the sea route for the first time," he wrote.
The minister pointed out that farmers associated with this initiative were receiving prices more than 50 per cent higher than earlier.
Bihar's premium Makhana was now gaining recognition among consumers worldwide. The successful sea export is expected to open new markets for Bihar's Makhana growers and encourage further investment in processing and value addition.
The development will not only boost farmers' incomes but also enhance India's presence in the global ready-to-eat and healthy snack segment.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who has lived in Australia, I can tell you that the health-conscious crowd there will absolutely love makhana. It's a perfect fit for their market—gluten-free, high protein, and low calorie. Smart move exporting there!
The 18% profit increase for farmers is the real headline here. Our agricultural exporters need to focus more on value addition rather than just raw produce. Proud to see Mithila Makhana getting GI-tag benefits!
Mithila Makhana is a wonderful example of how GI tagging actually helps local communities. The farmers in Darbhanga are some of the hardest working people I know. This export to Australia via sea route reduces costs compared to air freight, so the profits can only grow!
Interesting development. I've seen makhana in Indian stores here in the US, but it's not mainstream yet. If the export infrastructure is properly developed, this could become a major export product like cashews or almonds. The flavored variants are particularly appealing to Western palates.
From Mithila to Melbourne—what a journey! 😍 Hope the government continues to support such initiatives. Better infrastructure in Bihar for food processing and cold storage will make exports much more sustainable in the long run. Jai Bihar!
V Vikram M