Context:
- The Government of India has announced the establishment of a National Makhana Board to promote the Makhana (Foxnut) industry in Bihar — the state responsible for nearly 90% of India’s production.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Samastipur, Bihar, highlighted this as part of the Centre’s broader effort to support local agro-based industries, enhance value addition, and empower the Mallah community, which forms a key socio-economic group in the region.
- The initiative blends economic revival with political outreach, aiming to transform Bihar into a Makhana processing hub under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Key Highlights:
- Establishment of the National Makhana Board
- Announced by the Prime Minister with an initial corpus of ₹100 crore.
- Objective: to enhance production, processing, marketing, and export of Makhana.
- Functions as a nodal body for research, standardization, and branding of Indian makhana globally.
- Production Profile
- Bihar contributes ~90% of India’s total makhana production, spread across 9 districts — especially in Mithilanchal, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Purnea, and Katihar.
- 15,000 hectares of land under cultivation producing nearly 10,000 tonnes of popped makhana annually.
- The Mallah (fisherfolk) community, forming 2.6% of Bihar’s population, is predominantly engaged in cultivation and harvesting.
- Challenges
- Low productivity due to manual techniques and outdated tools.
- Lack of food processing units, storage, and export infrastructure forces farmers to sell raw makhana cheaply.
- Slow adoption of improved seed varieties and limited mechanization hinder profitability.
- Absence of organized value chains restricts participation in national and global superfood markets.
- Economic and Political Dimensions
- Makhana, now branded as a “superfood”, has rising global demand owing to its nutritional value and export potential.
- Supporting the makhana ecosystem aligns with the government’s Vocal for Local and One District One Product (ODOP) strategy.
- The initiative also seeks to empower the Mallah community, which holds electoral significance in north Bihar’s riverine belts.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Makhana (Foxnut):
- Botanical name: Euryale ferox (family: Nymphaeaceae).
- Grows in stagnant water bodies and ponds; native to the Gangetic plains.
- Rich in protein, fiber, magnesium, and antioxidants — recognized as a GI-tagged product of Bihar (2022).
- National Makhana Board:
- Established under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
- Mandate: Research, marketing, export promotion, and entrepreneurship support for makhana producers.
- Mallah Community:
- Also known as Nishad, traditionally a fisherfolk and boatmen community.
- Central to rural livelihood and riverine economy in Bihar.
- Related Schemes:
- PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme.
- One District One Product (ODOP) initiative.
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
Relevant Mains Points:
- Economic Significance:
- Promotes agro-industrial diversification and rural employment in Bihar.
- Potential to enhance export competitiveness in the global superfood market.
- Encourages women-led microenterprises through self-help groups (SHGs).
- Socio-Political Implications:
- Empowers the Mallah/Nishad community, a crucial electoral demographic.
- Strengthens regional identity through product-based economic revival.
- Reflects the use of agro-economics as a tool of social inclusion and political consolidation.
- Way Forward:
- Establish Makhana Processing Parks with modern equipment and cold chains.
- Integrate ICAR research institutes for developing high-yielding varieties.
- Facilitate export linkages under APEDA with quality certification.
- Encourage public–private partnerships (PPP) for processing and branding.