GI-Tagged Bihar Produce Targets New Zealand, USA, Canada
Mithila Makhana Shipment Flagged Off for Global Markets
Patna: Bihar’s first Regional Office of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was inaugurated by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, here today.
The new office aims to strengthen Bihar’s agricultural export ecosystem by offering farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations, Farmer Producer Companies, and exporters direct access to registration, advisory services, market intelligence, certification assistance, export procedure facilitation, and infrastructure development.
Previously, Bihar’s exporters relied on the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’s Varanasi office, often facing delays in addressing queries. The Patna office is expected to reduce turnaround times and improve coordination with state institutions, particularly for Geographical Indication-tagged products like Shahi Litchi, Jardalu Mango, Magahi Pan, and Mithila Makhana, as well as One District One Product initiatives.
“This office will bring global markets closer to our farmers, cutting delays and boosting efficiency,” Goyal said at the inauguration.
The inauguration took place during the Bihar Idea Festival on September 11, 2025, attended by Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Industries Minister Nitish Mishra, senior state officials, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority leadership, entrepreneurs, and farmer groups.
During the event, Goyal flagged off a 7-metric-ton consignment of Geographical Indication-tagged Mithila Makhana to New Zealand, Canada, and the United States of America, exported by Neha Arya, a woman entrepreneur from Darbhanga and founder of Nehashi, underscoring the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority’s emphasis on inclusive trade promotion. “Exporting Makhana to three countries is a dream come true, and APEDA’s support made it possible,” Arya shared, beaming with pride. Deputy Chief Minister Chaudhary added, “Bihar’s farmers are ready to shine on the global stage, and this office will pave the way.”
Bihar’s agricultural sector produces a range of high-value crops, including Shahi Litchi from Muzaffarpur, Jardalu Mango from Bhagalpur, Magahi Pan from Gaya, and Mithila Makhana from Darbhanga, alongside staple grains, fruits, and vegetables. Geographical Indication tags on several of these products enhance their global market appeal. In 2024–25, Mithila Makhana reached markets in the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, while Jardalu Mango, traditional sweets like Tilkut, and Til Laddu also secured international buyers, reflecting growing demand for Bihar’s produce. “Our GI-tagged products are unique, and the world is starting to notice,” said an Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority official.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority has supported Bihar’s export growth over the past three years through capacity-building programmes, both in-person and virtual, training farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations, and exporters on global quality standards, packaging, logistics, and compliance protocols. The agency facilitated international exposure visits for Farmer-Producer Organisations to the United Arab Emirates and domestic centres like the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, the International Rice Research Institute, and the Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in Lucknow, focusing on post-harvest handling, quality assurance, and export documentation.
The Agriculture Ministry said collaborations with institutions such as the National Research Centre on Litchi and the National Research Centre on Makhana, alongside state departments and universities, have improved technical expertise and supply chain efficiencies. Sustainable packaging initiatives, particularly for Shahi Litchi in Muzaffarpur, have also been prioritised. “Learning from UAE markets transformed how we package and present our produce,” noted a Muzaffarpur-based Farmer-Producer Organisation representative.
A significant effort was the International Buyer-Seller Meet held on May 19–20, 2025, at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, and the Government of Bihar. The event connected over 70 international buyers from 22 countries with more than 40 domestic exporters and five agricultural trade associations, fostering new trade opportunities. “Meeting buyers face-to-face opened doors we didn’t know existed,” said a Patna-based exporter.
The Patna Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority office, a result of collaboration between the Government of India and Bihar, is designed to provide institutional support, market access, and technical guidance to farmers, agripreneurs, women-led enterprises, Farmer Producer Organisations, Farmer Producer Companies, startups, and young exporters, aiming to integrate rural producers into global value chains.
– global bihari bureau
