May 29, 2021
India’s GI-certified products give a major boost to export, as the season’s first consignment of Shahi Litchi from Bihar was exported to the United Kingdom by the air route. The phytosanitary 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.
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.
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.
Shahi Litchi was the fourth agricultural product to get GI certification from Bihar in 2018, after Jardalu mango, Katarni rice, and Magahi paan. GI registration for Shahi Litchi is held with the Muzaffarpur-based Litchi Growers Association of Bihar.
“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.
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 export potential of the State.