India ships 7 tonnes of Bihar Makhana to Canada

India has exported 7 tonnes of Bihar’s famous Makhana (fox nuts) to Canada through the sea route, marking the first-ever sea shipment of value-added flavoured Makhana from the state.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, facilitated the shipment from Darbhanga, Bihar, on 29 July 2026.

According to the Commerce Ministry, the export marks a significant step in promoting Bihar’s premium agricultural produce in global markets while expanding the state’s basket of value-added agricultural exports.

The consignment comprised 7 metric tonnes packed in two containers and was dispatched through Mundra Port to ZKV Foods in Canada.

The flavoured Makhana was processed and packaged by Nutrivin Agro Private Limited in line with international quality and food safety standards, highlighting Bihar’s growing capabilities in food processing, value addition and export-oriented manufacturing.

APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev flagged off the shipment and appreciated the efforts of the exporter, processors, farmers, industry stakeholders and APEDA officials involved in the initiative.

He said such collaborative efforts are strengthening Bihar’s agri-export ecosystem, promoting value-added agricultural products and expanding global market access for the state’s unique produce.

The event was attended by Dr. Manoj Kumar, Scientist at the ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga; Shri Loknath Thakur, District Agriculture Marketing Officer; senior APEDA officials; and exporters and stakeholders associated with the Makhana value chain.

Makhana, popularly known as fox nuts, is one of Bihar’s flagship agricultural products, with the state accounting for the largest share of India’s production. The product is known for its nutritional value and premium quality, and demand has been rising in international markets as consumers increasingly prefer healthy and value-added food products.

According to the Commerce Ministry, the export of flavoured Makhana is expected to diversify export opportunities and enhance the global recognition of the product.

The ministry also said the export of value-added flavoured Makhana has enabled associated Makhana farmers to realise more than 50 per cent higher returns through value addition and improved access to international markets. It added that the initiative demonstrates the potential of processing, branding and export-oriented value addition in improving the competitiveness of India’s agricultural products while strengthening farmers’ integration with global value chains.

APEDA said it has been working to develop Bihar as a leading agri-export hub through capacity building, export infrastructure development, quality compliance, market linkages and value addition. It continues to work with state governments, exporters, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), processors and other stakeholders to strengthen India’s agri-export ecosystem through quality assurance, export facilitation and market development.

The successful sea shipment of flavoured Makhana to Canada marks another milestone in these efforts, creating sustainable income opportunities for farmers, processors and exporters while further expanding the global presence of Bihar’s premium agricultural products.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Ministry also said the first-ever air shipment of Neelam and Totapuri mangoes was exported from Karnataka to the Maldives.