The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has facilitated the first-ever sea shipment of value-added flavoured Makhana (fox nuts) from Darbhanga, Bihar, to Canada, marking a major milestone in promoting Bihar’s premium agricultural produce in global markets.
The inaugural shipment, flagged off on July 29, 2026, comprised 7 metric tonnes of flavoured Makhana packed in two containers and dispatched through Mundra Port to ZKV Foods, Canada. The products were processed and packaged by Nutrivin Agro Private Limited in compliance with international food safety and quality standards.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev, who highlighted that the successful export reflects the collective efforts of exporters, processors, farmers, industry stakeholders and APEDA in strengthening Bihar’s agri-export ecosystem. He noted that such initiatives are boosting exports of value-added agricultural products while expanding global market access for Bihar’s unique produce.
The event was also attended by Dr. Manoj Kumar, Scientist at the ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga; Loknath Thakur, District Agriculture Marketing Officer; senior APEDA officials; and representatives from the Makhana industry.
Bihar is India’s largest producer of Makhana, a nutrient-rich superfood that has gained increasing popularity in international markets due to rising consumer demand for healthy snack options. The export of flavoured Makhana is expected to further enhance the global recognition of Bihar’s premium produce while creating new opportunities for value-added agricultural exports.
According to APEDA, the initiative has enabled Makhana farmers to realise more than 50% higher returns through value addition and improved access to overseas markets. The shipment also demonstrates the potential of processing, branding and export-oriented manufacturing in increasing the competitiveness of Indian agricultural products and integrating farmers into global value chains.
APEDA continues to support the development of Bihar as a major agri-export hub through capacity building, export infrastructure, quality compliance, market linkages and value addition. The successful sea shipment to Canada marks another significant step towards creating sustainable income opportunities for farmers, processors and exporters while strengthening India’s agri-export ecosystem.