Overview

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the Makhana Mahotsav in Patna on October 4 and called for boosting output while cutting production costs.
• Chouhan encouraged Bihar’s youth to launch startups in the foxnut sector and pledged full Central support for entrepreneurship.
• He said nearly Rs 475 crore has been sanctioned for modern machinery, new variety development, and processing facilities to strengthen the value chain.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Makhana Board on September 15 with a mandate to advance technology, improve post-harvest management, promote value addition, and build markets and exports.
• Bihar produces about 90% of India’s makhana, and the NRCM in Darbhanga has developed high-yield varieties and processing machines, trained farmers, and distributed 15,824.1 kg of improved seed.