Context
India’s makhana sector is emerging as a high-potential agri-food sector, driven by rising health awareness, growing domestic consumption, value addition and export demand. India is the world’s largest producer of makhana, with production concentrated particularly in Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. The Government has also taken several steps, including the establishment of the National Makhana Board and a dedicated Central Sector Scheme, to modernize the entire makhana value chain.
India’s Makhana Sector: Key Facts
1. Geographical & Agricultural Facts
- Scientific Name: Euryale ferox
- Nature of Crop: Makhana is an aquatic crop grown mainly in shallow ponds, lakes and wetlands.
- Edible Part: The seed is roasted and processed to produce the familiar popped makhana or fox nut.
- Global Standing: India is the world’s largest producer of makhana.
- Major Producing States:
o Bihar
o West Bengal
o Assam - Bihar’s Dominance: Bihar accounts for nearly three-fourths of India’s makhana production and contributes around 80–85% of global supply.
- Major Production Belt: Cultivation is concentrated mainly in North Bihar, particularly the Kosi basin districts of Supaul, Saharsa and Madhepura, along with parts of the Mithila and Seemanchal regions.
2. Export Profile & Global Markets
- Export Classification: Before 2025, makhana was covered under general HSN codes, limiting the availability of product-specific export data.
- Separate HSN Code: The DGFT introduced a separate HSN code for popped makhana and other makhana products in 2025.
- Major Export Destinations:
o United States – 40%
o Canada – 20%
o UAE – 17% - These three markets together account for around 77% of India’s makhana exports.
- Premium Markets: Smaller markets such as Germany, Nepal and Australia command comparatively higher unit prices.
- Opportunity: Diversification towards premium-paying markets can improve export realization and overall competitiveness.
3. National Makhana Board & Government Support
- National Makhana Board: Announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
- Launch: Formally launched in Bihar on 15 September 2025.
- Objective: To strengthen and modernize the makhana value chain.
4. Nutritional & Health Significance
- Makhana contains:
o Carbohydrates
o High-quality protein
o Dietary fibre
o Magnesium
o Potassium
o Phosphorus
o Iron - It is characterized by low sodium and zero cholesterol.
- It has a low glycaemic load, making it increasingly popular among health-conscious consumers.
- Fat Content: Only around 0.33 g per 100 g.
- Protein Digestibility: Around 95%.
- Its essential amino acid index and chemical score are comparable to those of fish.
- These characteristics have contributed to its emergence as a global superfood.
5. National Research Centre for Makhana (NRCM)
- Role: The National Research Centre for Makhana (NRCM) supports modernization through research, technology development and capacity building.
- Key Areas:
o Improved cultivation and processing
o High-yielding varieties
o Water-efficient farming
o Integrated farming systems
o Makhana-cum-fish farming - Seed Distribution: NRCM has distributed 15,824.1 kg of high-yielding makhana seeds to farmers, KVKs and other organizations.
- Training: More than 3,000 farmers were trained between 2012 and 2023 in improved cultivation, processing and marketing.
- Enterprise Support: Technical support was provided to 24 enterprises.
- Technology Development: Equipment developed includes:
o Makhana seed washer
o Seed grader
o Primary roasting machine
o Popping machine
o Popped makhana grader
Conclusion
India’s makhana sector is transitioning from a traditional aquatic crop into a modern, value-added global agri-food industry. With India already occupying a leading position in global production, strengthening research, mechanization, quality seeds, farmer skills, processing, branding and export-market diversification can unlock greater value from the crop. The sector therefore has significant potential to contribute to higher farmer incomes, rural employment, value addition and India’s agricultural export competitiveness.
| Important CTC for this article for UPSC National Makhana board |