India’s Makhana Sector: Traditional Crop to Global Superfood

Key Highlights:

• India is the world's largest producer of Makhana (Euryale ferox), with Bihar contributing 80-85% of the global supply.
• The National Makhana Board was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 and formally launched in Bihar in September 2025.
• A Central Sector Scheme for the Development of Makhana was approved with an outlay of ₹476.03 crore for the period 2025-26 to 2030-31.
• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) introduced a separate Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) code for makhana products in 2025 to track exports.
• The National Research Centre for Makhana (NRCM) plays a key role in research, capacity building, and technological development for the sector.
• Makhana is recognized as a global superfood due to its rich nutritional profile, including high protein, fiber, and essential micronutrients.

Detailed Insights:

• Makhana has evolved from a traditional food in Bihar into a widely consumed health food, driven by rising health awareness and supportive government policies.
• The sector's growth is further supported by startups, Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs), increased cultivated area, improved productivity, and reduced cultivation risks.
• Cultivation is primarily concentrated in North Bihar, especially in the Kosi basin districts of Supaul, Saharsa, and Madhepura, and the Mithila and Seemanchal regions.
• India's makhana production increased from 63,910 Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2024-25 to 80,590 MT in 2025-26, with Bihar producing 60,000 MT in 2025-26.
• The domestic makhana market recorded 17-18% annual growth between 2021-22 and 2024-25, projected to reach ₹11,000-12,000 crore by 2029-30.
• Approximately 40% of India's makhana production is exported, with the United States, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates being major markets.
• The Central Sector Scheme focuses on promoting research, improving seed quality, strengthening farmer skills, upgrading post-harvest practices, and enhancing exports and quality control.
• NRCM has developed high-yield makhana varieties like Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1, introduced makhana-cum-fish farming, and trained over 3,000 farmers.
• Makhana's nutritional benefits include a low glycemic load, support for heart health, aid in digestion, and anti-aging properties, with a nutrient profile superior to many common nuts.
• The makhana value chain involves labor-intensive farm-level production, traditional primary processing, and expanding secondary processing for value-added products like flavored makhana and flour.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Euryale ferox: The scientific name for Makhana, an aquatic crop whose seeds are processed into edible fox nuts.
• Central Sector Scheme: A government scheme fully funded and implemented by the Central Government.
• Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) code: An internationally standardized system of names and numbers for classifying traded products.
• Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs): Organizations formed by farmers to collectively manage production, processing, and marketing activities.