Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, 12 June flagged off a 500-kg consignment of Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Tezpur litchis — specifically the prized 'Piyaji' variety — bound for Singapore, at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The shipment marks a fresh milestone in Assam's push to build an international market for its premium agricultural produce.

How the Consignment Reaches Singapore

The 500-kg batch will travel to Singapore aboard a Druk Air flight routing through Bhutan via Guwahati. Sarma also disclosed that the Singapore High Commissioner has expressed interest in procuring an additional 500 kg of Tezpur litchis, signalling sustained demand beyond this initial shipment.

Dubai Export Paved the Way

The Singapore dispatch follows closely on the heels of a successful 2,000-kg export of GI-tagged Tezpur litchis to Dubai, facilitated through the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Together, the two shipments underscore a pattern of growing overseas appetite for the fruit, which has steadily carved a niche in global markets over the past few years, according to Sarma.

Supply Constraints Limit Scale

Despite rising international demand, large-volume exports remain constrained by limited cultivation. Tezpur litchis are currently harvested from approximately 3,000 trees, making it difficult to scale exports significantly this season. Sarma noted that the fruit's popularity within Assam and across India further compresses the exportable surplus.

Notably, Sarma revealed he had recently sent Tezpur litchis to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers, who reportedly appreciated the fruit's quality and flavour — an informal endorsement that could help elevate its national and international profile.

Assam's Broader Agricultural Export Ambitions

Sarma outlined a wider vision for Assam's agri-exports, citing Kaji Nemu (a GI-tagged lemon variety), Bhut Jolokia (ghost pepper), jackfruit, and ginger as commodities with strong export potential. He stressed that realising this potential hinges on strict compliance with quality standards, including the scientific use of fertilisers and consistent production protocols.

'Assam has significant potential in ginger cultivation, and the government will make special efforts to increase exports of agricultural produce in the coming years,' Sarma said.

Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika and senior officials from the state Agriculture Department were present at the flag-off ceremony. The government expressed confidence that the export initiative would incentivise more farmers to take up litchi cultivation and open new international revenue streams for the agricultural community.