Bihar hosts a national symposium to elevate Makhana as a global superfood and rural growth catalyst.
Patna, May 20, 2025: In a significant stride toward agricultural innovation and rural development, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and agricultural Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha inaugurated the National symposium on “Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic Superfood from Rural Prosperity” in Patna on Tuesday.
The event, jointly organized by the Bihar Agricultural Science Academy (BASA), Agricultural Economics Research Association (AERA), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), brought together senior policymakers, scientists, agribusiness leaders, and development experts.
Highlighting Bihar’s leadership in Fox nuts production accounting for over 85% of India’s output Sinha underscored the crop’s cultural, nutritional, and economic significance.
“Makhana is not only an integral part of Bihar’s cultural and agricultural heritage but also a product of global relevance. This symposium reflects our resolve to promote entrepreneurship and value addition in the sector,” he said.
Makhana: a superfood with untapped potential: Makhana cultivation is concentrated in districts like Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, and Katihar. India produces around 120,000 metric tons of Makhana annually, contributing over INR 600 crore to the economy. Known for its high nutritional value, the aquatic crop is gaining global traction as a healthy snack.
Dr. Mangala Rai, former DG of ICAR, hailed the symposium as a milestone in building synergies across institutions to enhance Makhana’s market and production footprint.
Despite growing demand, the Makhana sector faces multiple challenges traditional cultivation methods, high post-harvest losses, lack of cold-chain infrastructure, and limited global market access due to the absence of a dedicated HS code.
To address these, Dr. P.K. Joshi, President of AERA, proposed a four-pronged strategy to promote innovation and mechanization to increase productivity.
He advocated for the development of robust value chains and post-harvest infrastructure, introduced targeted policies for production and marketing and integrated makhana into national nutrition and agricultural programs.
Strengthening institutions and exports:
Speakers emphasized the need for product diversification, strong branding, and export readiness while highlighting the role of the newly established Makhana Board in policy coordination and market facilitation.
Dr. Shyam Narayan Jha, Founding President of BASA advocated leveraging lessons from other successful commodity boards to ensure effective functioning and outreach.
Dr. Anjani Kumar, Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI-South Asia, reiterated the institute’s support through rigorous research, data systems and evidence-based policy recommendations. “Makhana stands at the intersection of rural livelihoods, nutrition, and agri-enterprise. It offers a unique opportunity to align global expertise with local development,” he said.
The Path forward:
The symposium featured four thematic sessions on production practices, processing and value addition, marketing strategies, and policy priorities laying a comprehensive roadmap for Makhana’s growth.
EOM.