Assam ships first 20-tonne ODOP honey consignment to the US
Assam has sent its first ODOP honey shipment from Baksa district to the United States. Officials and APEDA say the export should raise beekeeper and farmer incomes through stronger prices and direct access to external markets.
India has sent the first export consignment of One District One Product honey from Baksa district in Assam to the United States, marking a new step in the state’s agri-export push. The shipment was flagged off on May 9 through an initiative backed by APEDA, and the consignment was handled by APEDA-registered exporter Salt Range Foods Pvt. Ltd.
The first lot totals about 20 metric tonnes. It was dispatched from Guwahati, where the honey was also processed and packed at the Salt Range Foods Private Limited facility. Economic Times described the move as a significant boost for India’s agri-export landscape and as a practical example of the ODOP model, which is designed to build market identity around one priority product in each district.
Assam officials say the state has strong honey-production potential because of its biodiversity, forest resources and long beekeeping tradition. Honey collection has been practised for centuries by indigenous communities including the Karbi, Mishing and Bodo, where it has served as food, medicine and part of cultural and religious life. Major producing districts named in the report include Baksa, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri and Tamulpur in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
According to the latest National Horticulture Board data cited in the report, Assam produced about 1,650 metric tonnes of honey in FY 2023-24. Honey from Baksa is described as coming from eco-friendly, pesticide-free surroundings and as having near-organic characteristics, natural purity, strong floral diversity and high nutritional and medicinal value. Those attributes are central to the state’s argument that the product is suited to export growth and value addition.
APEDA said it supported the export through infrastructure development, including testing and laboratory equipment to meet international quality and food safety standards. The initiative is expected to deliver about 43% higher price realisation for farmers than prevailing local farm-gate levels, strengthening rural livelihoods for beekeepers and growers. The ceremonial flag-off was led by Agriculture Department Commissioner and Secretary Aruna Rajoria in the presence of APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev and ARIAS Society State Project Director Virendra Mittal.