Budget 2025-26: Bihar to have 'Makhana Board' akin to government initiatives to promote tea, coffee

Makhana Board will boost production, processing, value addition and marketing of makhana

The cultivation process is labour-intensive, as the seeds are sown in standing water and harvested by hand. Photographs by Vikas Choudhary/CSE

Published on:

03 Feb 2025, 12:53 pm

In her Union Budget presentation on Saturday, February 1, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the creation of a 'Makhana Board' in Bihar to boost the production, processing, value addition and marketing of makhana (foxnut).

The seeds are manually harvested, processed, and “popped” to create the snack consumed worldwide.

Despite Bihar being the largest producer of makhana in India, the state has struggled to meet rising domestic and international demand due to challenges such as low productivity, lack of food processing units and underdeveloped marketing chains.

The plant from which makhana is harvested grows in freshwater ponds across South and East Asia.

In 2022, 'Mithila Makhana' was awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which protects the product’s unique characteristics to the Mithilanchal region.

Makhana, once a humble ingredient, has seen a surge in global popularity, especially among health-conscious individuals, due to its nutrient-rich and low-fat properties.

As demand grows, the government aims to capitalise on this trend by marketing the product more effectively.

Bihar

Makhana