The first consignment of GI certified Shahi Litchi from Bihar exported to UK : PM Narendra Modi said in Mann ki Baat

India exported the season’s first consignment of Shahi Litchi from Bihar to the United Kingdom by air route on Monday 24th May, the commerce ministry said. It was a GI-certified product. The GI tag helps growers get premium price of the product as no other producer can misuse the name to market similar goods.

Addressing his monthly radio program ‘Mann Ki Baat‘ today, the Prime Minister said that you must have also heard the name of the Shahi Litchi of Bihar. In 2018, the Government also gave GI Tag to Shahi Litchi so that its identity would be reinforced and the farmers would get more benefits. This time the Shahi Litchi of Bihar has also been sent to London by air.

A geographical indication (GI) tag is used for an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.

The 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 the short-shelf life of litchi, there is a need to explore export opportunities for processed and value-added products.

“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,” it said.

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

Not only in Bihar Muzaffarpur is famous for litchi all over the world. The Shahi litchi from here goes to almost all parts of the country and the world.

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 in the country.

The Bihar government is making efforts for creating required infrastructures such as customs clearance facility, laboratory testing facility, pack-houses .

APEDA has been facilitating the Bihar Government in formulating State agri-export plan which would provide roadmap for boosting agricultural and processed food products exports from the State. After the finalization of the State agri-export plan, the export potential of Makhana, mango, litchi and other fruits and vegetables can be harnessed.
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.