Tripura has exported 1,000 kg of organically produced honey to the UAE for the first time, marking a landmark moment for the state's growing organic farming sector. Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath flagged off the consignment on Monday, 10 August at an International Organic Buyer-Seller Meet in Agartala, attended by 20 international buyers from nine countries.

Historic Export and What It Signals

The consignment was dispatched through a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) with support from the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department and the Horticulture Department. Minister Nath noted that while Tripura had previously supplied organic honey to other Indian states, this marks its first-ever foreign shipment of the product.

'This is the first time, through an FPO, that we have exported organic honey to the UAE with the help of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department along with the Horticulture Department,' Nath said at the event.

Organic Farming's Rapid Expansion in Tripura

The scale of Tripura's organic farming transformation is striking. Before 2018, only around 2,000 hectares of land were under organic cultivation in the state. That figure has since surged to 26,000 hectares, with approximately 47,000 farmers now engaged in certified organic production — a more than 13-fold increase in cultivated area over roughly seven years.

Minister Nath highlighted that 48% of the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is derived from agriculture, underscoring how central the sector is to Tripura's economy. 'Our main base is agriculture,' he said.

International Buyers and Products in Focus

The Buyer-Seller Meet was organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Buyers from New Zealand, Australia, Egypt, South Korea, Italy, Argentina, Germany, Greece, and the Philippines participated, with several expressing interest in Tripura's organic and horticultural produce.

Beyond honey, Tripura's Queen Pineapple has earned recognition nationally and internationally. Products including Sabri Banana, scented lemon, jackfruit, turmeric, and ginger were also highlighted for their quality and export potential. APEDA's Senior Consultant Tarun Bajaj and Tripura's Agriculture and Horticulture Department Secretary Apurba Roy were also present at the event.

Government's Broader Export Push

The state government's strategy centres on expanding organic certification, connecting FPOs directly with international buyers, and doubling farmer incomes. 'Our main aim is to double the farmers' income,' Nath said. APEDA and the Central Government are extending support to facilitate access to global markets, with the Buyer-Seller Meet designed to enable direct producer-buyer interaction without intermediaries.

This export milestone comes amid a broader national push to position India's northeastern states as hubs for certified organic produce, and Tripura's rapid acreage growth suggests the state is well-placed to capitalise on rising global demand for traceable, chemical-free agricultural products.