From Darbhanga to Down Under: Bihar’s GI Foxnut Marks New Export Milestone

Bihar’s Darbhanga district has sent 18 metric tonnes of its GI‑tagged Mithila foxnut to Australia, the first such sea‑borne export. The initiative, supported by the central Ministry of Commerce and APEDA, directly sourced the nuts from local growers, delivering an income uplift of about 18 percent compared with ordinary market prices. The move follows a similar maritime export to Canada earlier this year and signals escalating global appetite for the crunchy, nutrient‑dense snack. Enhanced farmer profits and expanding overseas demand are expected to drive ancillary sectors such as processing, packaging, and value‑addition throughout the state.