Tezpur, June 9: Union Minister Piyush Goyal has welcomed the export of Assam’s Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Tezpur litchi to international markets, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing farmers’ incomes and expanding the global footprint of agricultural products from Northeast India.
In a post on X, the minister said the renowned Tezpur litchi has begun establishing its presence in overseas markets. He noted that, with support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the first export consignment of the fruit has been shipped to Dubai.
“This step will give the region’s litchi global recognition, provide farmers with better prices and create new opportunities for agricultural products from Northeast India,” Goyal said.
The export comes as Tezpur marks a century of litchi cultivation. The recently concluded two-day Tezpur Litchi Festival 2026, organised by the Sonitpur district administration at the District Library in Tezpur, celebrated the heritage and growing popularity of the GI-tagged fruit.
During the festival, one tonne of different litchi varieties was exported to Dubai, while another 600 kilograms was shipped to Singapore. The consignments were flagged off by Anand Kumar Das in the presence of Prithviraj Rabha and other officials.
Authorities described the exports as a major milestone for Tezpur litchi, which is widely recognised for its distinctive flavour, rich pulp and appealing colour. The fruit has steadily gained popularity in both domestic and international markets.
This year, the premium Bombay variety of Tezpur litchi commanded prices ranging between Rs 40 and Rs 50 per fruit. Organisers said litchis worth more than Rs 4 lakh were sold at the festival venue in a single day.
Litchi cultivation in Tezpur dates back to 1923, when noted litterateur Padmanath Gohain Baruah established orchards in the town. According to local agricultural groups, more than 150 farmers currently cultivate litchis across over 400 bighas of land in the region.
The festival also featured several well-known varieties, including Chahi, Bilati, Bombaiya, Piyaji, Chinese, Rongiya, Kath Bombaiya and Elaichi litchis, highlighting the diversity and legacy of Tezpur’s litchi cultivation.
