Erode: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the flag-off of the maiden Palmyra jaggery powder export to Bulgaria on 15 October 2026. The consignment weighed 1.755 MT and carried NPOP- and EU-certified organic powder, also called Palmyra blossom nectar. It left Gobichettipalayam in Erode district for Varna. APEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
The shipment marks an important step towards introducing India’s traditional Palmyra-based products to international markets. It also helps diversify the country’s organic export basket.
M/s Wellbeing Foods, Erode, manufactured and exported the consignment. It worked with M/s Chetty Exports Private Limited, Chennai. The cargo will travel by sea through Chennai Port. M/s Sow Life Ltd is the overseas importer and distributor in Bulgaria.
APEDA Chairman Shri Abhishek Dev flagged off the consignment at the ceremony. APEDA Secretary Dr. Saswati Bose also attended, along with senior APEDA officials, representatives of the exporting companies, international partners, progressive farmers and other stakeholders. Their participation highlighted the collaborative efforts to strengthen India’s agricultural exports.
Palmyra jaggery powder offers farmers higher price realisation
The initiative aims to strengthen market linkages for Tamil Nadu’s traditional Palmyra-based products. It also aims to create new opportunities for producers engaged in organic cultivation. The initiative covers 137 acres under organic cultivation. As a result, it should benefit farmers through improved market access and export-oriented value chains.
The reported price realisation is approximately 15-22 per cent for farmers and 17 per cent higher for the manufacturer, compared with the domestic market. Therefore, the project offers an opportunity to improve returns for participating farmers and support sustainable livelihoods.
Palmyra jaggery powder comes from Palmyra blossom nectar. It is a traditional Indian sweetener with potential for value addition and wider international market acceptance. Moreover, it offers potential nutritional benefits, including vitamins and minerals, as an alternative to refined sugar.
Palmyra-based products draw on traditional production practices and the Palmyra palm. The palm has long formed part of the agricultural and cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu. Likewise, developing export-ready products from this resource offers scope to expand market opportunities while supporting producers and the wider value chain.
APEDA continues to facilitate the export of certified organic and value-added agricultural products. It does so by supporting market development, quality compliance and linkages between Indian producers and overseas buyers. Finally, the maiden export should open avenues for further market expansion and strengthen the presence of India’s traditional products in international markets.
