Tripura’s Dergang Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) has exported one metric tonne of mustard honey to Dubai, marking the first-ever international shipment of the product from the region and opening new market opportunities for local beekeepers and farmers.
The export was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and is expected to strengthen Tripura’s emerging honey and beekeeping sector by providing farmers with access to international markets and potentially better price realisation.
The shipment is also seen as a step towards diversifying the state’s honey value chain and encouraging farmer producer organisations to adopt quality-focused and export-oriented production practices.
The initiative was supported by Salt Range Foods Pvt. Ltd., which has been working with Dergang FPO to strengthen bee production and develop an export-oriented honey supply chain. The collaboration enabled the FPO to aggregate production and take its first step into the international market.
Tripura Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the first export of mustard honey was a significant achievement for the state’s beekeepers and farmers, demonstrating the potential of local agricultural products to reach global markets.
“The Government of Tripura remains committed to strengthening apiculture and organic agriculture while supporting Farmer Producer Organisations in accessing wider markets,” Nath said.
He added that coordinated efforts by farmers, FPOs, exporters and institutions such as APEDA could help Tripura expand its presence in the global market for quality agricultural and organic products.
The export consignment was flagged off by Nath in the presence of Agriculture and Horticulture Secretary Apurba Roy, senior APEDA officials, representatives of the exporter and logistics partners, Executive Director of IFOAM Organics Asia Jennifer Chang and beekeepers from the region.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the initiative is expected to create an additional income avenue for beekeepers and encourage greater adoption of quality standards, value addition and organised production.
The Ministry said Tripura’s diverse agricultural landscape and growing network of organised farmer collectives provide significant potential for expanding the production and export of honey and other agricultural products.
The mustard honey shipment also highlights the role of FPO-led aggregation and partnerships with private-sector players in connecting small farmers with overseas markets. The model could encourage more FPOs and farmers in Tripura and other parts of the Northeast to explore international markets.
APEDA has been working with state governments, FPOs, exporters, processors and other stakeholders to promote agricultural exports from the Northeast through market linkages, capacity building, quality assurance and export facilitation.
