Tripura exports 1,000 kg organic honey to UAE (Lead)
Agartala, Aug 10
Tripura has made significant progress in organic farming, with around 47,000 farmers now engaged in organic cultivation, while the state has exported 1,000 kg of organically produced honey to the UAE for the first time.
Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath flagged off the consignment while inaugurating an International Organic Buyer‑Seller Meet at a hotel in Agartala on Monday. A total of 20 international buyers from New Zealand, Australia, Egypt, South Korea, Italy, Argentina, Germany, Greece and the Philippines participated in the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Nath said farmers are the "Annadata" (food providers) of the country and the state government has been giving priority to them through various programmes and initiatives.
He noted that Tripura had earlier exported organic honey to other states but never to a foreign country.
"This is the first time, through an FPO, that we have exported organic honey to the UAE with the help of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department along with the Horticulture Department," he said.
The Minister said the Buyer‑Seller Meet was organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Highlighting the growth of organic farming in Tripura, Nath said the area under organic cultivation had increased substantially since 2018.
"Before 2018, around 2,000 hectares of land in the state were used for organic cultivation. Now, 26,000 hectares are under organic cultivation, and 47,000 farmers are involved," he said.
He added that international buyers from Germany, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and other countries had expressed interest in Tripura's organic and agricultural products. Nath said the state's Queen Pineapple had gained recognition both nationally and internationally, while products such as Sabri Banana, scented lemon, jackfruit, turmeric and ginger were also well known for their quality.
The Minister said Tripura was producing genuine and certified organic products and that APEDA and the Central Government were extending support to promote organic farming and facilitate access to international markets.
"Forty‑eight per cent of the GSDP of our state comes from agriculture. Our main base is agriculture," he said.
He added that the international meet would provide an important platform for direct interaction between producers, farmers, farmer‑producer organisations and buyers from India and abroad. "Our main aim is to double the farmers' income," Nath said.
The government has been seeking to expand the market for Tripura's agricultural and horticultural products by promoting organic cultivation, improving certification and connecting local farmers and FPOs with national and international buyers.
The export of organic honey to the UAE marks another step towards expanding the overseas market for Tripura's organic products and strengthening the income opportunities of farmers engaged in organic cultivation.
APEDA's Senior Consultant Tarun Bajaj and Tripura's Agriculture and Horticulture Department Secretary Apurba Roy were also present at the event.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is wonderful progress! I visited Tripura last year and was amazed by the quality of their local produce. The Queen Pineapple is genuinely world-class. Hoping this creates more opportunities for the farmers and boost the local economy. Well done!
Excellent initiative! But I wish the government would focus more on building infrastructure for storage and transportation in the Northeast. Small farmers still face many challenges getting their produce to markets. Still, good to see steps in the right direction.
This is exactly what we need - more international buyer-seller meets in smaller states. The northeast has so much potential that remains untapped. 47,000 farmers engaged in organic cultivation is not a small number. Double the farmers' income? Yes, please! 💪🌱
Great to see international interest in Indian organic products beyond the usual spices and tea. The fact that 20 international buyers from 9 different countries attended the meet shows the growing trust in Indian organic certification. Congrats Tripura!
Yaar this is really good news! 1000 kg honey is just the beginning, wait till they discover our Sabri banana and scented lemon. Tripura organic products are top class. Salute to the hardworking farmers and the government for pushing this forward. 👏👏
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