Reported by Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: In a major boost to Assam’s agri-export sector, the first-ever consignment of One District One Product (ODOP) honey from Baksa district was exported to the United States on Friday, with officials saying the move is expected to significantly raise incomes for local beekeepers and farmers.
The 20-metric-ton honey consignment was facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and exported by the Assam-based firm M/S Salt Range Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Baksa, one of Assam’s Aspirational Districts and a key honey-producing region in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), has been identified under the Centre’s ODOP initiative for its high-quality, near-organic honey sourced from pesticide-free and biodiversity-rich environments.
Officials said the export initiative is expected to help local producers secure prices nearly 43 per cent higher than prevailing farm-gate rates, providing a major income boost for beekeepers and strengthening rural livelihoods in the district.
Assam produces around 1,650 metric tons of honey annually, according to National Horticulture Board data for 2023–24. Key honey-producing districts in the state include Baksa, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri, and Tamulpur.
Honey collection and beekeeping have long been part of the cultural and livelihood traditions of indigenous communities such as the Bodo, Karbi, and Mishing tribes, where honey is used for food, medicine, and religious practices.
APEDA said it supported the export process by strengthening quality infrastructure and providing testing and laboratory equipment to ensure compliance with international food safety standards.
The export is being seen as a milestone in integrating farmers from Assam’s Aspirational Districts into global value chains while showcasing the growing export potential of the region in niche agricultural products.