APEDA office in Bihar to empower farmers, FPOs, and exporters with direct global market access; 7 MT Mithila Makhana shipment flagged off to New Zealand, Canada, and USA
Patna, September 11, 2025 — In a landmark step to boost Bihar’s agricultural and processed food exports, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated the first Regional Office of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in Patna during the Bihar Idea Festival.
The event was graced by Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Shri Samrat Chaudhary, Minister of Industries, Bihar Shri Nitish Mishra, senior officers of the Government of Bihar, APEDA leadership, farmer groups, FPOs, FPCs, and entrepreneurs.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Piyush Goyal said, “The opening of the APEDA Regional Office in Patna is not just an administrative milestone—it is a mission to integrate Bihar’s farmers with the global economy. Our farmers, entrepreneurs and exporters have the potential to feed the world. With the right support, Bihar will emerge as a leader in high-value, sustainable agri-exports.”
The new APEDA office will provide direct support to farmers, producer groups, and exporters, offering registration, advisory services, certification assistance, market intelligence, and export facilitation. Until now, exporters from Bihar depended on APEDA’s Varanasi office.
Adding a historic touch, Shri Goyal flagged off a 7 metric ton consignment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana destined for New Zealand, Canada, and the USA. The shipment was executed by Ms. Neha Arya, founder of Nehashi from Darbhanga, showcasing the growing role of women-led enterprises in agri-exports.
Deputy CM Shri Samrat Chaudhary praised the Centre’s initiative, affirming the Government of Bihar’s commitment to support farmer-led growth and global trade readiness.
Bihar is home to high-potential agri-products such as Shahi Litchi, Jardalu Mango, Mithila Makhana, and Magahi Pan, many of which hold Geographical Indication (GI) tags, enhancing their global appeal. In recent years, Mithila Makhana, Jardalu Mango, and Shahi Litchi have already entered international markets, while traditional sweets like Tilkut and Til Laddu are also gaining traction abroad.
Over the past three years, APEDA has strengthened Bihar’s agri-export ecosystem through capacity building, sustainable packaging initiatives, collaborations with research institutions, and international buyer-seller meets, including a major IBSM in Patna in May 2025 that attracted buyers from 22 countries.
The inauguration of the APEDA office in Patna and the successful export of Mithila Makhana mark a new era for Bihar’s agrarian economy. The office represents not just infrastructure but a gateway to prosperity for farmers, FPOs, women-led start-ups, and exporters, bringing Bihar closer to becoming a vibrant hub of sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive agri-trade.
Source: PIB
