Tripura Flags Off 18-Tonne Organic Rice Consignment for Export to Austria, Netherlands
Sep 03, 2026
A consignment of 18 metric tonnes of NPOP-certified ethnic rice from Tripura was flagged off for export to Austria and the Netherlands on Wednesday, marking a fresh push to connect the state's farmers with international markets. The initiative was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
The consignment comprises four varieties of certified organic rice: Aromatic Kali Khasa Rice, Aromatic Harinarayan Rice, Biron Rice (white sticky rice) and Maimi Hanga Rice (Black Rice). According to officials, the rice was aggregated from Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) across Tripura with support from the Tripura State Organic Farming Development Agency (TSOFDA). The export is being carried out by M/s Pratithi Organic Foods, Sonepat, a leading exporter of Indian organic agri-products worldwide.
Officials said the export is expected to enable participating farmers to achieve up to 40 percent higher price realisation compared with the domestic market, offering a significant economic incentive for organised and export-oriented production. The initiative also provides local producers and FPCs a direct avenue to connect with international markets, strengthening the state's participation in the growing global demand for certified organic products.
The flag-off builds on the Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) organised in Tripura by APEDA last month, which brought together potential international buyers and local producers and helped create linkages for market access. Officials noted that the present consignment reflects the conversion of those buyer-seller interactions into concrete international business opportunities for farmers and FPCs.
The export to Austria and the Netherlands is being seen as significant, as these are considered discerning international markets where quality, food safety, certification and traceability are important considerations.
The consignment was flagged off by Agriculture Minister, Government of Tripura, Ratan Lal Nath, along with Chairman, APEDA, Abhishek Dev, and Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Tripura, Apurba Roy. The ceremony was also attended by Saswati Bose, Secretary, APEDA; Tanushri Bhattacharya, General Manager, NABARD; Phanibhusan Jamatia, Director of Agriculture; and Rajib Debbarma, Mission Director, TSOFDA, along with officials from APEDA, representatives of the exporter and logistics partners, and progressive rice farmers from the region.
Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the export of NPOP-certified ethnic rice from Tripura to international markets was a proud moment for the state and reflected the hard work of farmers, Farmer Producer Companies and other stakeholders. He highlighted Tripura's immense potential in organic and traditional agricultural products and said such initiatives would help farmers access new markets, secure better price realisation and build sustainable livelihoods. He also said the state government remained committed to strengthening the organic farming ecosystem and supporting producers in meeting international standards.
Meanwhile, APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev said the export of NPOP-certified ethnic rice from Tripura demonstrated the immense potential of the North Eastern Region to contribute to India's growing organic and agricultural exports. He noted that by connecting FPCs and farmers with international markets and strengthening certification, traceability and quality systems, APEDA was helping create sustainable and organised export opportunities. He further said APEDA would continue to work closely with the Government of Tripura and other stakeholders to promote the state's unique agricultural products in global markets.
The event reflects the coordinated efforts of APEDA, the Government of Tripura and stakeholders across the organic value chain to expand exports of certified organic products from the state, strengthen farmer linkages with international markets and create sustainable export opportunities for farmers and producers.
