In a major achievement for India's agricultural exports, a consignment of 30 metric tons of GI-tagged jaggery from Muzaffarnagar, known for its superior sugarcane, was flagged off to Bangladesh. The flag-off ceremony, held on January 30, 2025, was organized by the Basmati Export Development Foundation (BEDF) under the guidance of APEDA.
The event was attended by key dignitaries, including MLA Shamli Prasanna Chaudhary, Joint Director of BEDF (APEDA) Dr. Ritesh Sharma, AAMO Saharanpur Division Rahul Yadav, and Chairman of Brijnanadan Agro Farmer Producer Company Sandeep Chaudhary.
The initiative signifies the start of jaggery exports from western Uttar Pradesh to Bangladesh through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), providing a critical boost to local farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Shamli Prasanna Chaudhary highlighted the strong international demand for jaggery from Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, crediting APEDA for its continuous support. He also emphasized the crucial role of state government assistance in maintaining quality standards to enhance global competitiveness.
Highlighting APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev’s vision, BEDF Joint Director Dr. Ritesh Sharma underscored the significance of empowering FPOs to facilitate direct agricultural exports, ensuring maximum benefits for the farming community.
The Brijnandan Agro Farmer Producer Company, established in 2023, has 545 members, including two women directors. It plays a crucial role in exporting jaggery, sugarcane products, Basmati rice, and pulses. With technical training and support from BEDF, its members have been equipped to meet international production and export standards.
With APEDA’s support, this achievement marks the third success story for an FPO from western Uttar Pradesh in agricultural exports. It follows the export of Basmati rice by Neer Adarsh Organic Farmer Producer Co Ltd. to Lebanon and Oman in 2023 and 2024. Notably, this is the only FPO in Uttar Pradesh to receive financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh under the state’s Agri Export Policy.
Additionally, the event featured a capacity-building programme on export promotion for Basmati rice and other agricultural products, organized by BEDF. Around 220 farmers participated in discussions on enhancing production quality for global markets.
