The Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday that India has exported one tonne of Tezpur litchi with Geographical Indication (GI) status from Assam to Dubai. This step is another step towards promoting this premium fruit in foreign markets. This fruit is known for its excellent sweetness, bright red color and special fragrance. The ministry is promoting the export of agricultural products from this region of the North-East. The ministry said that many special varieties of litchi are grown in Tezpur area, which include Bombaiya, Bilati, Cardamom, Piyaji and Shahi.
The ministry said the Geographical Indication (GI) status has strengthened the identity and market credibility of Tezpur litchi, thereby increasing its popularity among international buyers and opening up new opportunities for export of premium agricultural products from Assam.
100 litchi cultivation done
This export was done during the celebration of 100 years of Tezpur’s famous litchi cultivation, which started on Sunday. The two-day ‘Tezpur Litchi Festival 2026’ organized by the Sonitpur district administration recently concluded at the District Library of Tezpur, showcasing the 100-year-old heritage of this GI-tagged fruit. During the festival, a tonne consignment of different types of litchi was sent to Dubai, while about 600 kg of litchi was sent to Singapore.
Sonitpur District Commissioner Anand Kumar Das flagged off these consignments in the presence of Tezpur MLA Prithviraj Rabha, District Agriculture Officer Pradeep Kumar Talukdar, Sadar Agriculture Officer Zakir Hussain and other dignitaries. Officials said that this export is another big achievement for this fruit, which has gained recognition in the domestic and international markets due to its special taste, pulp and attractive color.
Started in 1923
This year, the price of the popular ‘Bombay’ variety of Tezpur litchi stood at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per fruit. According to reports, litchi worth more than Rs 4 lakh was sold in a single day at the festival site. Tezpur’s litchi legacy began in 1923, when Padmanath Gohain Barua, a famous writer and former chairman of the Tezpur Municipality, planted litchi orchards in the city.
Today, according to Agnigarh Agriculture Producers Group, more than 150 farmers in the area cultivate litchi on more than 400 bighas of land. Many famous varieties were also displayed at the festival, which included Chahi, Bilati, Bambaiya, Piyaji, Chinese, Rongia, Kath Bambaiya and Elaichi Litchi.
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