Key Highlights
- First export: 1.755 tonnes of organic Palmyra jaggery powder shipped from Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu, to Varna, Bulgaria.
- Better prices: Farmers get 15–22% more and the manufacturer about 17% more than in the domestic market.
- Certified: The product carries India’s NPOP and EU organic certifications.
- Farm reach: The initiative covers 137 acres under organic cultivation.
- Facilitated by: APEDA, the government’s agri-export promotion body.
India has made its first-ever export of organic Palmyra jaggery powder. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the shipment of 1.755 metric tonnes from Gobichettipalayam in Tamil Nadu to Varna, Bulgaria. The consignment was flagged off on October 15 and will be shipped by sea from Chennai Port.
The Export at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Product | Organic Palmyra jaggery powder |
| Quantity | 1.755 metric tonnes |
| From | Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu |
| To | Varna, Bulgaria |
| Certifications | NPOP and EU organic |
| Manufacturer | Wellbeing Foods, Erode |
| Exporter partner | Chetty Exports Pvt Ltd, Chennai |
| Importer | Sow Life Ltd, Bulgaria |
What Is Palmyra Jaggery?
Palmyra jaggery, known in Tamil Nadu as karupatti, is made from the nectar of the Palmyra palm’s flowers. The palm has long been part of Tamil Nadu’s farming and cultural landscape, and its jaggery is a traditional sweetener used in homes across the state. It is increasingly seen as a natural alternative to refined sugar.
Why It Matters: Better Prices for Farmers
The most important number in this story is not the quantity, but the price. According to the government, the export fetches farmers 15–22% more, and the manufacturer around 17% more, than they would get in the domestic market.
That shows the value of organic certification and export market access. A small, traditional product made in rural Tamil Nadu can earn a premium abroad when it meets international standards. The initiative covers 137 acres under organic cultivation, and if this first shipment opens doors in Europe, more farmers could benefit.
It also reflects a growing global demand for natural, less processed sweeteners, a market where Indian traditional products like palm and cane jaggery have room to grow.
A modest 1.755-tonne shipment to Bulgaria could mark the start of a bigger journey for Tamil Nadu’s Palmyra jaggery, from village palm groves to international shelves, with better earnings for the farmers who make it.
With inputs from IANS.