GI-tagged Mithila Makhana makes first sea shipment to Australia

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first-ever commercial sea shipment of 18 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana, exported from the BIADA Industrial Area in Bihta, Bihar, to Australia. The consignment, sourced from Makhana growers in Darbhanga district, is expected to strengthen the international presence of Bihar's flagship GI product while creating enhanced income opportunities for farmers through export-led market access.

The export consignment was flagged off by Bihar's Agriculture Minister, Vijay Kumar Sinha. The initiative has enabled farmers to realise nearly 18% higher returns than prevailing market rates, highlighting the benefits of export-oriented value chains and direct market linkages. The export is expected to strengthen the international presence of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana, create sustainable export opportunities for Bihar's Makhana sector, and contribute to higher 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 programme (Bharat's Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Innovation). Comprising premium-quality raw GI-tagged Mithila Makhana, the consignment was sourced directly from farmers in Darbhanga district and packed at the BIADA Industrial Area in Bihta.

Speaking at the event, Sinha said Makhana is the identity of Bihar, and that greater participation of Bihar-based exporters in international trade would enable farmers to secure better price realisation. He emphasised the importance of maintaining quality standards to meet global market requirements, and said the Bihar government is continuously working to strengthen the Makhana value chain by supporting growers, processors, and exporters. He added that support would continue for the Phori community, whose traditional skills are integral to Makhana processing, and said the first sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana to Australia reflects growing global demand for Bihar's agricultural products, opening new opportunities for farmers and exporters.

APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the export in association with Bihar's Department of Agriculture. The Authority has been consistently promoting Makhana exports through capacity building, market development initiatives, export facilitation, and stakeholder engagement, and also supported the exporter in market access facilitation and coordination for the shipment to Australia.

The Australia shipment follows two other recent milestones in Bihar's Makhana export push. In January 2026, 2 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana sailed from Purnia to Dubai, the first commercial sea route established specifically for Purnia's growers, sourced directly through local Farmer Producer Organisations. In July 2026, 7 metric tonnes of flavoured, value-added Makhana from Darbhanga reached Canada via Mundra Port, marking a separate milestone that showcased Bihar's growing capability in processing rather than raw export. Together, the Dubai, Canada, and Australia shipments reflect a broader pattern of Bihar's Makhana ecosystem steadily opening new sea routes to new international markets.

Bihar accounts for nearly 85% of India's Makhana production. To further strengthen the sector, a separate HS Code for Makhana came into effect from 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 over 20 international destinations, including the US, the Middle East, and Africa.

APEDA said it will continue working closely 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 while creating sustainable, export-led growth opportunities for farmers across the country.