Assam government declares 'Kaji Nemu' as state fruit

Guwahati: The Assam government has announced that 'Kaji Nemu' (citrus lemon) has been recognized as the state fruit of Assam.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, "Our government has decided to declare Kaji Nemu (Citrus Limon) as the State Fruit of Assam. With its unique aroma and antioxidant properties, Assam lemon has enriched our local cuisines. With today’s announcement, it is set to shine on the global fruit map, boosting self-dependency and production."



On the seventh day of the budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Assam’s Agriculture Minister Atul Bora informed the state cabinet that it has decided to declare the citrus lemon the state fruit.

Assam's lemon (Kaji Nemu) is making its presence felt in a big way in Delhi-NCR. Assam lemon is cultivated in more than 15,000 hectares with an average annual production exceeding 1 lakh metric tonnes.

The Directorate of Horticulture and Food Processing, Government of Assam, is promoting Assam lemon not only in Delhi-NCR but also in three other cities: Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

The oval-shaped Kaji Nemu is a lot juicier than other lemon varieties. Kaji Nemu is majorly used in culinary and commercial purposes, and it is extensively used for its medicinal properties.

The GI-tagged lemon has attracted buyers from nations like the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. More than 160 metric tonnes of lemon have been exported to London and Dubai.

Assam has as many as 16 species and 52 varieties hybrids of citrus. Kaji Nemu, grown in almost all the districts of the state, is available throughout the year.

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Steering Committee for Green Field Airports has formally recommended “Site Clearance” for the proposed greenfield airport in Doloo, Cachar District.

Sarma stated, "I am happy to share that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Steering Committee for Green Field Airports has formally recommended “Site Clearance” for the proposed greenfield airport in Doloo, Cachar District. Under the Greenfield Airport Policy, establishing a new airport is broadly a two-stage process - site clearance followed by in-principle approval. With this decision of the Steering Committee, we are now one step closer to ushering a remarkable connectivity transformation in Barak Valley".