Knowledge Nugget: National Makhana board — A must-know for UPSC exam

Why in the news?

On 15th September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Makhana Board in Purnea, Bihar. The announcement for the creation of the Makhana Board was made in the Union Budget 2025-26. In this context, let’s learn about the Makhana board, Makhana and important geographical aspects of it.

Key Takeaways :

1. The  recently launched National Makhana Board will support Makhana farmers in Bihar and across the country by promoting production, developing new technologies, strengthening post-harvest management, adding value, and facilitating the processing and marketing of Makhana, thereby making it easier for the product to enter the market, be exported, and establish its brand.

2. Notably, Bihar accounts for approximately 90% of India’s makhana production. This production is primarily concentrated in nine districts located in northern and eastern Bihar: Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, and Sitamarhi, which are part of the Mithilanchal region.  Among these districts, the first four contribute to 80% of Bihar’s total makhana output.

3. In addition to Bihar, makhana is cultivated in smaller quantities in the states of Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, Tripura, and Odisha, as well as in neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, China, Japan, and Korea.

Significance of ‘Makhana Board’

1. The establishment of the National Makhana Board in Bihar is highly significant for those involved in Makhana cultivation. The Bihar government has been demanding measures from the Central government to promote Makhana cultivation.

2. Despite being the largest producer of Makhana, Bihar has had difficulty tapping into the expanding market for this product. Although the state accounts for 90% of the country’s makhana production, the largest exporters of makhana in India are actually Punjab and Assam, with Punjab not even producing the crop itself.

3. This situation arises from Bihar’s lack of a developed food processing industry and inadequate export infrastructure. Notably, none of Bihar’s airports have cargo facilities, which further limits export capabilities. Additionally, low productivity in makhana cultivation is a significant issue. Currently, the cultivation process is extremely labor-intensive and challenging, driving up overall input costs.

4. Additionally, Farmers have been slow to adopt high-yield varieties of fox nut seeds developed by agricultural institutes, such as Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1.

5. The establishment of the Makhana Board in Bihar will give a major boost to the Makhana production in the State and the country and strengthen the presence of Bihar on the global map in this sector.

6. The Makahana Board is expected to provide training to farmers, making them export-oriented, help create an ecosystem that brings investments in the food processing sector, and help create required export infrastructure.

Makhana — the ‘Black Diamond’

1. Makhana, commonly known in English as fox nut, is the dried edible seed of the prickly water lily or gorgon plant (Euryale ferox). This plant is found in freshwater ponds throughout South and East Asia. It is recognized for its violet and white flowers, as well as its large, round, and prickly leaves, which can often exceed a meter in diameter.

2. The edible part of the Makhana plant consists of small, round seeds that have an outer layer ranging from black to brown. This has led to it being referred to as the ‘Black Diamond.’

Makhana is hailed as a superfood.

3. After processing, these seeds are often consumed as popped snacks known as ‘lava.’ Makhana is highly nutritious and provides an excellent source of carbohydrates, protein, and minerals. Due to its versatile applications in medicine, healthcare, and nutrition, this plant can be consumed in various forms.

4. In 2022, ‘Mithila Makhana’ was conferred a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Notably, A GI is a tag used on products that originate from a specific geographical area and have qualities or a reputation that are characteristic of that region. GI tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.

5. Climatic Conditions for Makhana Cultivation: Makhana (Gorgon Nut or Foxnut) is an aquatic crop and is mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions.  It is traditionally cultivated in stagnant water bodies such as ponds, land depressions, lakes, ditches, or wetlands with shallow water depths of up to 4-6 feet.

6. For optimal growth and development, Makhana requires a temperature range of 20-35°C, relative humidity of 50-90%, and annual rainfall between 100-250 cm.

BEYOND THE NUGGET:  National Turmeric Board

1. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the headquarters of the National Turmeric Board in Nizamabad, Telangana, on 29th June.

2. Notably, the Centre established the National Turmeric Board in January this year. The government has set a target of achieving one billion dollars in turmeric exports by 2030.

India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric in the world. (Source: File Photo)

3. The National Turmeric Board aims to promote and grow the turmeric sector across the country, especially Telangana. The Board will give leadership on turmeric-related issues, supplement efforts, and facilitate closer collaboration with the Spices Board and other government authorities to promote the development and growth of the turmeric industry.

4. India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of turmeric in the world, with most of the product coming from Telangana, Maharashtra and Meghalaya. India has more than 62% share of world trade. During the 2023-24 fiscal, 1.62 lakh tonnes of turmeric and turmeric products valued at $226.5 million were exported.

Post Read Questions

(1) Consider the following statements:

1. The National Makhana Board is launched in Bihar.

2. Mithila Makhana was conferred a Geographical Indication tag in 2022.

3. Makhana is an aquatic crop and is mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

(2) With reference to the turmeric, consider the following statements:

1. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.

2. The government has set up the National Turmeric Board in Kerala.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

(Sources: Understanding Budget’s Makhananomics, PIB, Why is Makhana, the ‘Black Diamond,’ and its geographical aspects important for the UPSC exam?)

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