Bihar’s GI-tagged Mithila Makhana reaches Australia in first commercial sea shipment

The consignment, sourced directly from Makhana growers in Darbhanga district and packed at the BIADA Industrial Area in Bihta, Bihar, is expected to strengthen the international presence of the state’s flagship GI-tagged product while creating enhanced income opportunities for farmers through export-led market access.

The shipment was flagged off by Vijay Kumar Sinha, Agriculture Minister, Government of Bihar. The ceremony was attended by the Director of Horticulture, Government of Bihar, APEDA officials, representatives of the exporter and logistics partners, as well as progressive Makhana growers from the region.

The initiative has enabled farmers to realise nearly 18 per cent higher returns than prevailing market rates, underscoring the potential of export-oriented value chains and direct market linkages to improve farmer incomes.

The consignment was exported by NIAD Green, with logistics support from Jitban Supply Chain Pvt. Ltd., a startup supported under APEDA’s BHARATI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Innovation) initiative.

Comprising premium-quality raw GI-tagged Mithila Makhana, the shipment was sourced directly from farmers in Darbhanga and packed at the BIADA Industrial Area, Bihta, before being transported by sea to Australia.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said Makhana is an important part of Bihar’s identity and that greater participation of Bihar-based exporters in international trade would help farmers secure better price realisation.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining quality standards to meet global market requirements and said the Government of Bihar was working continuously to strengthen the Makhana value chain by supporting growers, processors and exporters.

Sinha also said that continued support would be extended to the Phori community, whose traditional skills play an important role in Makhana processing.

He added that the first commercial sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana to Australia reflected growing global demand for Bihar’s agricultural products and opened new opportunities for farmers and exporters.

APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, facilitated the export in association with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Bihar.

APEDA has been promoting Makhana exports through capacity-building programmes, market development initiatives, export facilitation and stakeholder engagement. The authority also supported the exporter with market-access facilitation and coordination, helping ensure the smooth movement of the consignment to Australia.

Bihar accounts for nearly 85 per cent of India’s Makhana production. To further strengthen the sector, a separate HS Code for Makhana came into effect in July 2025 under the Finance Bill, 2025.

During FY 2025–26, India exported more than 7,000 metric tonnes of Makhana and value-added Makhana products to more than 20 international destinations, including the United States, the Middle East and Africa.

APEDA continues to work with state governments, exporters, startups, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and other stakeholders to enhance the global competitiveness of India’s agricultural products and create sustainable export-led growth opportunities for farmers across the country.