Rice to silk, Bihar lists 30 indigenous products for Centre’s export push

The Bihar government prepared an exhaustive district-wise list, with 26 of 38 districts identifying products specific to them.

Currently, only Muzaffarpur’s district’s Shahi litchi and Darbhanga’s makhana (foxnut) are being exported from the state on a small scale.

Now, Bhagalpur district’s silk and Jardalu mangoes have been included on the list, an expected move considering their popularity.

While Patna has listed its pharmaceutical products, Araria and Purnia have identified jute products. Aurangabad and Bhojpur, meanwhile, have chosen rice varieties. Govindbhog, a flavoured rice variety from Kaimur in Rohtas region—known as the state’s “rice-bowl”—has been included.

The other districts that have submitted products are Gopalganj (jaggery), Katihar and Khagaria (jute and makhana), Darbhanga and Madhubani (Mithila paintings), Munger (tobacco), Vaishali (biscuits), and West Champaran (wooden furniture).

A senior official at the Department of Industries in Bihar said: “We are working only as a facilitator for DGFT in identifying local products, which can have national and international markets. Several lead banks also have a role to play in promoting districts as export hubs. State-level export promotion committee and district export plan will come into play once the export rating and index are ready.”

Bihar government’s district export plan will be effective from January 2021.

At least six Bihar districts grow makhana and as many districts have well-known varieties of rice. Litchi and mango are seasonal products of at least 10 Bihar districts.