NEW DELHI, 26 December 2025: The National Makhana Board has held its first meeting in New Delhi, formally initiating the implementation of a INR 476 crore Central Sector Scheme aimed at the holistic development of India’s makhana (fox nut) sector. The meeting, chaired by Dr Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), marked the operational rollout of both the Board and the newly approved scheme.
During the meeting, the Board reviewed Annual Action Plans submitted by state governments and agricultural research institutions and approved budget allocations across key intervention areas. The discussions underscored the need for a coordinated, science-led and market-oriented approach to strengthen the makhana value chain, from seed development to exports.
A major focus area was seed availability. The Board emphasised consolidating the seed requirements of participating states, with supply to be channelled through Bihar-based institutions, including State Agricultural University (SAU) Sabour and Central Agricultural University (CAU) Samastipur, for the current and subsequent agricultural cycles.
To support capacity building, SAU Sabour, CAU Samastipur and the National Research Centre (NRC) for Makhana in Darbhanga will train master trainers from multiple states on advanced cultivation, processing and value-chain technologies. This is expected to facilitate the expansion of makhana cultivation beyond traditional geographies.
The Board also highlighted the need for targeted research and development to improve cultivation practices, processing efficiency and product quality. Priority areas identified include modern production technologies, infrastructure for grading, drying, popping and packaging, promotion of value-added products, branding initiatives, market linkages and export readiness. Strengthening post-harvest management and quality control mechanisms was positioned as critical to improving farmer realisations and global competitiveness.
The meeting effectively set the strategic roadmap for the makhana sector, aiming to align farmer capacity building, institutional research and private market participation under a unified framework.
The National Makhana Board was established following an announcement in the Union Budget 2025–26 and was officially launched by the Prime Minister in Bihar on 15 September 2025. To support its mandate, the government has approved a Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana with an outlay of INR 476 crore for the period FY2025-26 to FY2030-31.
The scheme focuses on research and innovation, quality seed production, farmer training, improved harvesting and post-harvest practices, value addition, branding and marketing, export promotion and quality assurance. The government expects the initiative to modernise the sector, improve farmer incomes and position India as a competitive player in global makhana markets.
