GUWAHATI: The first ever consignment of honey from Assam’s Baksa district to the US was launched from Guwahati on Saturday, an official statement said.
The Agricultural Products and Processed Foods Export Development Authority has facilitated exports from the aspirational region under the Centre’s One Product One Region initiative.
The consignment was delivered by EDA registered export company Salt Range Foods Pvt Ltd.
Commissioner and Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Production Commissioner Aruna Rajoria flagged off the consignment.
“The historic consignment, comprising around 20 metric tonnes of honey, was launched from Guwahati. The honey was processed and packaged at Salt Range Foods Private Limited’s facility in Guwahati,” the statement said.
She said that the honey coming from the Baksa region comes from an environmentally friendly and pesticide-free environment and is known for its high quality and semi-organic properties, reflecting the region’s rich biodiversity and sustainable agricultural practices.
Honey from Baksa has also been identified under the ODOP initiative, recognizing its potential for livelihood generation, value addition and export growth.
The statement said Assam has enormous potential for honey production due to its rich biodiversity, abundant forest resources and long-standing tradition of beekeeping.
The state produced nearly 1,650 metric tons of honey during 2023-24, according to the latest National Horticultural Council data.
The major honey producing districts of the state include Baksa, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri and Tamulpur in the Bodoland regional region.
The Emirates Agriculture Authority, affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has facilitated the export process by supporting infrastructure development, including providing testing equipment and laboratories at the processing facility to ensure compliance with international quality standards and food safety requirements.
This initiative is expected to greatly benefit local beekeepers and farmers, as farmers will receive 43 percent higher prices compared to prevailing local farm gate prices, thus enhancing income opportunities and enhancing rural livelihoods in the region.
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