Guwahati, September 4 (HS): Assam is beginning to take the distinctive flavours of its farms and traditional food economy to international markets, with a series of recent export milestones signalling a wider effort to connect the Northeast with global value chains.

From GI-tagged Joha rice reaching Europe and Tezpur litchi making its export debut in Dubai to Assam-made Purabi ice cream entering Bhutan, the emerging trend goes beyond the export of agricultural commodities. It points towards a growing emphasis on value addition, geographical identity, processing, branding and international market access.

In March, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first export of 25 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Joha rice from Assam to the United Kingdom and Italy. The aromatic rice was processed and packed in Guwahati before being shipped to the two European markets. The initiative was aimed at strengthening international market linkages and improving price realisation for farmers.

Another milestone came in June, when APEDA facilitated the first export consignment of GI-tagged Tezpur Litchi from Assam to Dubai. A one-metric-tonne shipment was exported on June 7. Known for its sweetness, distinctive aroma, bright-red appearance and quality, Tezpur Litchi's GI status is helping strengthen its identity and recognition among international buyers.

The state's dairy sector has also begun entering neighbouring international markets.

In July, Assam exported its first international consignment of 5,627 litres of Purabi Ice Cream to Bhutan, with the products destined for markets including Thimphu, Paro, Phuentsholing and Wangdue. Manufactured by the West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union and marketed by North East Dairy and Foods Limited, the ice cream uses milk procured through Purabi Dairy's cooperative network of farmers across Assam.

The significance of these developments lies not only in the individual products, but in the possibility of creating a farm-to-global-market ecosystem in the Northeast.

From local produce to global value

A more structural development is emerging through the Blue Valley Cluster, launched in Guwahati in June by the Government of Assam and the European Union.

Focused on flavours, fragrances, AYUSH and food processing, the initiative aims to develop ecosystems and value chains linking Assam and the wider Northeast with Europe and other international markets. The EU describes the cluster as a platform for cooperation involving businesses, farmers, women-led groups, startups, researchers and industries, with an emphasis on innovation, sustainable manufacturing and international business partnerships.

This could be significant for a region whose agricultural and natural-resource products often have strong local identities but have historically faced challenges in reaching distant premium markets.

The emerging model is different.

Instead of simply selling raw produce, the focus is increasingly on moving products through processing, quality certification, GI protection, packaging, branding and traceability before they reach consumers abroad.

That shift could allow producers to capture more value from products that are already distinctive because of their origin.

A new opportunity for Northeast India

Assam's experience could also have implications beyond the state.

The EU has positioned the Blue Valley initiative as a means of strengthening links between Europe, Assam, the wider Northeast and Bhutan, while exploring opportunities in sectors including food processing, natural flavours and fragrances, sustainable agriculture and traditional wellness products.

For the wider Northeast, this creates the possibility of building export-oriented value chains around products that are closely associated with the region's biodiversity, agriculture and cultural heritage.

Tea has long been Assam's most recognised global agricultural product. But the new export milestones suggest that the region's international food identity could become much broader.

Aromatic rice, premium fruits, spices, dairy products and other distinctive agricultural and processed foods could increasingly become part of that identity.

The opportunity, however, will depend on more than international demand.

Scaling exports will require reliable production, cold-chain infrastructure, food-safety compliance, certification, processing capacity, logistics and access to overseas buyers. Equally important will be ensuring that small farmers, cooperatives, producer organisations and local enterprises participate meaningfully in the additional value created by international markets.

From Assam's farms to the world's tables

The recent export milestones remain relatively small in volume. But their significance lies in what they demonstrate: products rooted in Assam's villages can increasingly move through formal value chains and reach consumers beyond India's borders.

For the Northeast, that could open a different path to economic growth-one based not only on large infrastructure projects or natural resources, but also on origin, authenticity, food culture and high-value agricultural products.

If the emerging ecosystem succeeds, Assam could increasingly serve as a platform through which distinctive products from the Northeast move towards markets in Europe, the Gulf and neighbouring countries.

The larger opportunity is therefore not simply to export more food.

It is to create products whose origin becomes part of their value-and to ensure that the economic benefits of that identity travel back to the farmers and communities who produce them.

For Assam, the next frontier may not simply be producing what is unique to the Northeast, but building the value chains that allow the world to recognise-and pay for-what makes the region unique.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar