An 18-metric-tonne consignment of four varieties of NPOP-certified ethnic rice from Tripura has been flagged off for export to Austria and the Netherlands, opening new international market opportunities for farmers and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) in the northeastern state.
The consignment, facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), comprises Aromatic Kali Khasa Rice, Aromatic Harinarayan Rice, Biron Rice, a white sticky variety, and Maimi Hanga Rice, a black rice variety.
The rice has been aggregated from FPCs supported by the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency (TSOFDA) and is being exported by Pratithi Organic Foods, Sonepat, an exporter of Indian organic agricultural products.
The export is expected to provide participating farmers with up to 40 per cent higher price realisation compared with the domestic market, offering an incentive for producers to adopt organised, certified and export-oriented agricultural practices.
The shipment follows a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) organised by APEDA in Tripura last month, which brought potential international buyers and local producers together and helped establish market linkages. The latest consignment marks the conversion of those engagements into a concrete export opportunity for farmers and FPCs.
Austria and the Netherlands are considered quality-sensitive markets where certification, food safety and traceability play an important role. The export of NPOP-certified rice is therefore expected to strengthen Tripura’s presence in international markets for organic and traditional agricultural products.
The consignment was flagged off by Tripura Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath along with APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev and Tripura Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Secretary Apurba Roy. Officials from APEDA, NABARD and TSOFDA, representatives of the exporter and logistics partners, and rice farmers from the region also attended the event.
Nath described the export as an important milestone for Tripura’s farmers and highlighted the state’s potential in organic and traditional agricultural products. He said such initiatives would help farmers access new markets, secure better prices and build sustainable livelihoods, while the state government remains committed to strengthening the organic farming ecosystem and helping producers meet international standards.
APEDA Chairman Dev said the shipment demonstrated the potential of the northeastern region to contribute to India’s growing organic and agricultural exports. He emphasised the importance of connecting farmers and FPCs with international markets while strengthening certification, traceability and quality systems.
APEDA said it would continue to work with the Tripura government and other stakeholders to promote the state’s distinctive agricultural products in global markets.
The latest export initiative is part of efforts to strengthen Tripura’s organic value chain, expand international market access and create sustainable export opportunities for farmers and producers.
