Agartala, 10th August 2026: Tripura has taken a significant step forward in organic agriculture with the first-ever export of 1,000 kg of organically produced honey from the state to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath flagged off the honey consignment during the inauguration of an International Organic Buyer-Seller Meet at Hotel Polo Towers in Agartala on Sunday.
The event, organised by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, brought together international buyers and sellers to explore opportunities for promoting Tripura’s organic agricultural products in global markets.
Addressing the gathering, Nath said nearly 47,000 farmers in Tripura are currently engaged in organic farming, while the area under organic cultivation has increased substantially in recent years.
“Before 2018, around 2,000 hectares were under organic cultivation. Today, the area has increased to nearly 26,000 hectares, involving around 47,000 farmers,” the minister said.
He said the export of honey to the UAE marks an important milestone, as Tripura had previously supplied organic honey to other parts of India but had not exported it directly to an overseas market.
The minister highlighted the growing international demand for Tripura’s agricultural produce, particularly Queen Pineapple, along with Sabri Banana, scented lemon, jackfruit, turmeric and ginger.
According to Nath, agriculture remains the backbone of Tripura’s economy, contributing around 48 per cent of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). He said the government’s primary objective is to expand market access and help increase farmers’ incomes.
“Tripura is producing genuine and certified organic products, with support from APEDA and the Central Government. Our focus is to provide better markets for farmers and work towards doubling their income,” Nath said.
Around 20 international buyers from countries including New Zealand, Australia, Egypt, South Korea, Italy, Argentina, Germany, Greece and the Philippines participated in the programme.
Dr. Tarun Bajaj, Senior Consultant, APEDA; Apurba Roy, Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture; Jennifer Chang, Executive Director, IFOAM Organics Asia; and Rajib Debbarma, Mission Director, TSOFDA, among others, were present at the event.
