New Delhi: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated flag-off of a consignment of 18 metric tonnes of four varieties of NPOP‑certified ethnic rice from Tripura for export to Austria and the Netherlands, an initiative expected to lift farmer price realisation by up to 40 per cent, an official statement said on Thursday.
The shipment of NPOP-certified ethnic rice comprised of Aromatic Kali Khasa Rice, Aromatic Harinarayan Rice, Biron Rice (white sticky rice) and Maimi Hanga Rice (Black Rice), aggregated from Farmer Producer Companies supported by the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency and exported by Pratithi Organic Foods, Sonepat.
The export marks a significant step towards creating new market opportunities for local farmers and strengthening Tripura’s integration with international markets through organised and export-oriented production, the statement from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said.
The initiative provides an avenue for local producers and FPCs to connect with international markets and strengthens the State’s participation in the growing global demand for certified organic products.
The flag-off builds on the Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) organised in Tripura by APEDA last month, which brought together potential international buyers and local producers and helped create linkages for market access.
The present export consignment reflects the conversion of such buyer-seller interactions into concrete international business opportunities for farmers and FPCs.
The exports to Austria and the Netherlands are also significant as these are discerning international markets where quality, food safety, certification and traceability are important considerations.
The Agriculture Minister, Tripura, Ratan Lal Nath, said that the consignment reflects the hard work of farmers, Farmer Producer Companies and other stakeholders.
He also said that the state government is committed to strengthening the organic farming ecosystem and supporting producers in meeting international standards.
Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev, highlighted that APEDA is helping create sustainable and organised export opportunities by connecting FPCs and farmers with international markets and strengthening certification, traceability and quality systems.
He further said that APEDA would continue to work closely with the Tripura government and other stakeholders to promote the state’s unique agricultural products in global markets.
(IANS)
