Bihar's Mithila Makhana Makes Historic Export to Australia
Significant Export Achievement
Photo: @gopaljeebjp/X
New Delhi, Aug 8: On Saturday, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that for the first time, 18 metric tonnes of GI-tagged ‘Mithila Makhana’ have been exported from Bihar to Australia via sea.
This shipment, sourced directly from farmers in Darbhanga, has resulted in nearly an 18% increase in profits for them compared to the prevailing market rates, as shared by Goyal on social media.
“India's GI-tagged Mithila Makhana has reached a significant milestone in the international market,” the minister stated.
With the assistance of APEDA, the export of 18 metric tonnes of this unique Makhana from Bihar to Australia has been successfully completed.
In a related achievement, last month, India marked a significant milestone in agricultural exports by sending its first sea shipment of Makhana to Canada.
This consignment, weighing seven metric tonnes, represents a crucial step in promoting Bihar’s premium agricultural products globally and enhancing the country’s value-added agricultural exports.
The shipment, made possible through the efforts of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), was positively received by both exporters and farmers in the region.
Goyal emphasized this accomplishment in a post on social media, stating, “Another significant achievement for Bihar's farmers. Thanks to APEDA, seven metric tonnes of flavored Makhana were exported from Darbhanga to Canada via sea for the first time.”
He also noted that the farmers involved in this initiative are now receiving prices that are over 50% higher than before.
Bihar’s premium Makhana is increasingly being recognized by consumers around the world. This successful sea export is anticipated to create new market opportunities for Makhana growers in Bihar and stimulate further investments in processing and value addition.
This development is expected to not only enhance farmers' incomes but also strengthen India’s position in the global ready-to-eat and healthy snack market.