Archive · 18 Nov 2025
Government Aims to Ease Makhana Farmers' Struggles
Makhana farmers in Bihar have tough jobs with low prices and hard work.
The government wants to help by making farming easier and giving fair prices.
They're working on better seeds and machines to help the farmers.
Bihar's makhana farmers face challenges like fluctuating prices, thorny plants, and lack of minimum support price
NDTV's Rahul Kanwal raised these issues with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chouhan listed solutions including the National Makhana Board and mechanization efforts
The board aims to promote production, technology, post-harvest management, value addition, and market development
The government is working on makhana seeds that can germinate in less water and easier farming methods
- Who
- Bihar's makhana farmers and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- What
- Discussed challenges and solutions for makhana farming
- When
- November 18, 2025, at the PepsiCo Voices of Harvest Awards
- Where
- At the event and in makhana fields in Bihar
- Why
- To improve the lives and livelihoods of makhana farmers
Farmers' Perspective
Government's Perspective
Minimum Support Price
Farmers' Perspective
Farmers want a minimum support price for makhana
Government's Perspective
Government is considering this through the Makhana Board
- Total makhana production
- Nearly all of India's makhana comes from Bihar
- Districts contributing to makhana output
- Madhubani, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnea, Katihar, and Araria
- Estimated makhana output from these districts
- 80 to 90 per cent of India's total makhana output