First Consignment Of Shahi Litchi Exported From Bihar To United Kingdom Via Air Route, To Boost Farmer Incomes

In a major boost to export of GI certified products, season’s first consignment of Shahi Litchi from Bihar was exported to the United Kingdom by air route on Monday (24 May).

The phyto-sanitary certification for exports of Shahi Litchi was issued from a newly established certification facility at Patna. The fruit is being exported by Cira Enterprises and sourced from farmers in Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) collaborated with the Department of Agriculture, Bihar along with other stakeholders such as farmers, exporters and importers for facilitating exports of Shahi Litchi.

“Because of short-shelf life of litchi, there is a need to explore export opportunities for the processed and value-added products,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.

Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Samastipur, Champaran, Begusarai districts and adjoining areas of Bihar have favorable climate for growing Shahi Litchi.

India is the second largest producer of litchi (Litchi chin) in the world, after China. The translucent, flavoured aril or edible flesh of the litchi is popular as a table fruit in India, while in China and Japan it is preferred in dried or canned form. Bihar tops in terms of production of litchi.

Bihar government is making efforts in association with APEDA and other agencies for creating required infrastructures such as customs clearance facility, laboratory testing facility, pack-houses, pre-cooling facilities, which would harness and boost agricultural exports potential of the State.