Makhana: The ‘Black Diamond’

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the establishment of a Makhana Board in Bihar.

About Makhana (Fox Nuts)

• Makhana, also known as fox nut, is the dried edible seed of the prickly water lily (Euryale ferox).
• It is found in freshwater bodies across South and East Asia.
• The plant is recognized for its violet and white flowers and large round prickly leaves, often exceeding one meter in diameter.
• Due to its dark outer layer, Makhana is referred to as the ‘Black Diamond’.

Nutritional Value and Uses

• Makhana is low in fat, high in carbohydrates, and a good source of protein.
• It is rich in minerals and is widely used in:
  • Traditional medicine
  • Health and wellness products
  • Snacks and culinary preparations such as commonly consumed as popped Makhana, also called ‘Lava’.

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Major Producing Regions

• Bihar accounts for 90% of India’s total Makhana production.
• The main producing districts in Bihar include:
  • Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, and Sitamarhi (Mithilanchal region).
  • The first four districts contribute to 80% of Bihar’s total Makhana output.
  • Geographical Indication (GI) Tag: Mithila Makhana received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2022.
• Other states cultivating Makhana include: Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, Tripura, and Odisha.
• Makhana is also grown in Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Japan, and Korea.
• The Bihar government has been advocating for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Makhana.

Climatic Conditions for Makhana Cultivation

• Makhana is an aquatic crop that thrives in tropical and subtropical regions.
• It is cultivated in stagnant water bodies such as ponds, lakes, ditches, wetlands, and land depressions with water depths of 4-6 feet.
• Ideal climatic conditions:
• • Temperature Range: 20°C – 35°C
  • Relative Humidity: 50% – 90%
  • Annual Rainfall: 100 – 250 cm

About Makahan Board

• The Makhana Board is set to be arranged  with  a budget of ₹100 crore.
• The board will provide training, financial assistance, and access to government schemes for Makhana farmers.
• The board aims to boost production, processing, value addition, and marketing of Makhana (Fox Nuts).

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Significance of the ‘Makhana Board’

• Bihar’s Export Challenges:
  • Although Bihar is the largest producer, Punjab and Assam are the largest exporters of Makhana.
  • Punjab does not even cultivate Makhana, yet leads in exports due to better processing infrastructure.
  • Bihar lacks food processing units, export infrastructure, and cargo facilities at airports.
• Low Productivity and High Costs: Makhana cultivation is labor-intensive and costly.
  • Farmers have not widely adopted high-yield varieties like Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1.

Role of the Makhana Board

• Train farmers to improve production techniques.
• Promote investment in the food processing sector.
• Develop export infrastructure to increase global market reach.
• Ensure better financial incentives and MSP for Makhana farmers.

Makhana under ODOP

• Makhana is recognized as an ODOP product under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
• The Union government provides subsidies to Makhana processors for:
  • Branding and marketing.
  • Infrastructure development in Bihar

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