Why in News
- Ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections 2025, the government is promoting the makhana (foxnut) industry as a key economic and political initiative.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the recently inaugurated National Makhana Board as a “revolution” during a poll rally in Samastipur, highlighting government support for the sector.
Relevance
- GS-1 (Indian Culture & Society): Regional agricultural practices, Maithil community, socio-economic structures.
- GS-2 (Governance): Policy-making, institutional support, government initiatives for rural economy.
- GS-3 (Economy & Agriculture): Agro-based industrialisation, value addition, food processing policy, rural livelihoods, export promotion.
Background
- Makhana (Foxnut): Dried seeds of the prickly water lily (Euryale ferox), grown in freshwater ponds.
- Primary region: Bihar, contributing ~90% of India’s makhana production, mainly in Mithilanchal districts: Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Sitamarhi.
- Top 4 districts (Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, Katihar) produce ~80% of Bihar’s output.
- Cultivation area & production:
- Area: ~15,000 hectares (Bihar)
- Popped makhana production: ~10,000 tonnes (ICAR, 2020)
Nutritional & Commercial Potential
- Superfood trend: Low-fat, nutrient-dense, high protein, antioxidants; increasingly popular nationally and globally.
- Ritual use: Traditionally consumed during religious ceremonies and fasting.
- Commercialisation efforts:
- Marketing campaigns, industrial infrastructure, value addition, and export linkages.
- Formation of National Makhana Board with Rs 100 crore budget for ecosystem development.
Challenges in the Industry
- Low productivity: Labour-intensive cultivation and harvesting; seeds sown in water, harvested manually.
- Raw material export: Bihar lacks processing and export infrastructure; sells raw makhana to Punjab and Assam.
- Technology adoption: Farmers slow to adopt high-yield varieties like Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1.
- Lack of food processing ecosystem: Weak value addition, storage facilities, and supply chain management.
Government Initiatives
- National Makhana Board:
- Focus: Production, processing, value addition, marketing
- Budget: Rs 100 crore
- Support: Funding, food processing institute creation, research & training, marketing support.
- Food processing ecosystem: Aim to develop storage chains, export facilities, and industrial linkages.
- Value addition: Promotion of popped makhana products, snacks, and packaged health foods.
Economic & Social Impact
- Employment: ~10 lakh families involved in cultivation and processing.
- Community benefit: Primarily supports Maithil farmers, concentrated in riverine belts of North Bihar.
- Vote-bank significance: Maithils: 2.6% of population, but can influence >6% vote share in North Bihar constituencies.
Political Context
- Ahead of elections, “Makhanaomics” serves as:
- A poll strategy to support a key local community (Maithils).
- Part of ruling coalition’s broader economic vision beyond infrastructure.
- Criticism faced by prior governments for narrow economic focus (roads, power) motivates agriculture-led development messaging.
- Potential to boost rural income, promote regional economic identity, and strengthen political support.
Data & Facts
- Bihar produces ~90% of India’s makhana.
- Cultivation area: 15,000 hectares; output: 10,000 tonnes of popped makhana.
- Top producing districts: Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, Katihar (80% of state output).
- Initial Makhana Board budget: Rs 100 crore.
- High-yield seed varieties: Swarna Vaidehi, Sabour Makhana-1.
- Employment impact: ~10 lakh families.
- Maithil population: 2.6% of Bihar; political influence in North Bihar >6% vote share.
Key Challenges Ahead
- Enhancing productivity and mechanisation.
- Building food processing infrastructure in Bihar.
- Developing export chains to reduce dependency on other states.
- Encouraging adoption of improved seed varieties among farmers.
- Ensuring equitable benefit-sharing for smallholder Maithil farmers.
