Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office and chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday hailed the first-ever sea shipment of seven metric tonnes of value-added flavoured makhana, fox nuts, from Darbhanga to Canada.“Bihar’s prosperity is now establishing its identity in global markets. The export of 7 metric tonnes of makhana from Bihar to Canada is proof of the hard work of the state’s farmers, our agricultural capabilities, and the growing global demand for local products. This achievement is not only taking Bihar to new heights in the field of agricultural export, but also another strong step towards the direction of ‘from local to global’,” Choudhary posted on X.“Our resolve is that Bihar’s local products establish their unique identity in the global market and become a means of prosperity for our farmers,” he added.The PMO also posted on X a report on the shipment. The consignment, comprising 7 metric tonnes packed in two containers, was dispatched through Mundra Port to ZKV Foods in Canada. The flavoured makhana was processed and packaged by a Darbhanga-based private agro firm in accordance with international quality and food safety standards, reflecting Bihar’s growing capabilities in food processing, value addition and export-oriented manufacturing.An official said the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which works under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the flag-off of the first-ever sea shipment of value-added flavoured Makhana on July 29.Makhana is one of Bihar’s flagship agricultural products, with the state accounting for the largest share of India’s production. Renowned for its nutritional value and premium quality, Bihar’s makhana has seen growing demand in international markets amid rising consumer preference for healthy and value-added food products. The export of flavoured makhana is expected to diversify export opportunities while enhancing global recognition of the product, the official said.The official added that value-added flavoured makhana exports have enabled the farmers to realise more than 50% higher returns and improved access to international markets abroad.
