India Expands Food Exports with Makhana and Frozen Foods Shipments

India has made significant strides in expanding its international market access for food items, particularly makhana and frozen foods. According to the commerce ministry, one tonne of makhana was exported from Purnea, Bihar, to Greece on October 2. Meanwhile, 24 tonnes of frozen food products were shipped from Sonipat, Haryana, to Canada.

Makhana production in India is dominated by Bihar, which accounts for 80-85% of the country's total output. The crop is cultivated across 35,000 hectares in 10 districts, with technical support provided by Bihar Agricultural University and ICAR-National Research Centre for Makhana.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the importance of connecting farmers to the global value chain, enabling them to achieve better prices for their produce. The export of frozen foods such as green peas, mixed vegetables, sweet corn, and samosas marks a significant step in this direction.