Bihar’s Makhana cluster scales toward 30,000 MT of exports

By Tom Whitfield

According to The Makhana of Mithila: Turnaround story of the superfood, Bihar produced an estimated 60,000 metric tonnes (MT) of makhana in 2025–26. The report separately puts India’s total production at approximately 80,590 MT. It says Bihar accounts for 80–85% of national supply and a comparable share of world supply.

The report also puts exports at around 7,265 MT in FY 2025–26, valued at nearly Rs 193 crore. Bihar targets 30,000 MT of exports by 2030–31 through additional production, processing and branding.

How far has cultivation expanded?

The source estimates that Bihar’s cultivation area rose from approximately 13,000 hectares over the past decade to 35,000–41,000 hectares in recent years. Bihar targets 82,000 hectares by 2030–31, effectively doubling the recent range.

The cluster reaches wetlands and ponds in northern Bihar, plus shallow lowland fields across Mithilanchal, Kosi basin and Seemanchal. Its primary cultivation belts include:

• Darbhanga, Madhubani, Katihar and Purnia.
• Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura and Sitamarhi.

Shallow ponds, wetlands and seasonally waterlogged fields provide favourable conditions for Euryale ferox, the prickly water lily that yields makhana. This water base supports the crop across the listed cultivation belts.

What changed in the production model?

Field cultivation now supplements traditional pond systems and permits crop rotation with rice or wheat. The source reports seed yields of 2.6–3.5 tonnes per hectare in fields; ponds yield 1.5–2.0 tonnes.

Improved varieties include Sabour Makhana-1 and Swarna Vaidehi. Sabour Makhana-1 yields 32–35 quintals per hectare and a 55–60% popping recovery; the source links these varieties to higher productivity and quality. Various state schemes also provide a 75% subsidy for seed support.

Which skills and jobs support the cluster?

The source identifies the Mallahs, a traditional fishing community, as the centre of harvesting knowledge. Generations of Mallah expertise cover diving, identifying different thorny plants and timing the crop.

Women undertake the labour-intensive work of drying, roasting, popping, grading and sorting. The source estimates that several lakh families, many of them small and marginal, depend on makhana for seasonal and year-round livelihoods.

Turning the hard black seed into crisp white phool makhana still requires artisanal control of heat and moisture. During peak harvest and processing, a skilled worker can earn Rs 1,000–1,500 per day, compared with Rs 300–500 for a typical farm labourer.

The wider economy employs hundreds of thousands of local workers and experts, according to the report.

How has GI protection changed branding?

According to the report, Mithilanchal Makhana received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in August 2022. The Mithilanchal Makhana Utpadak Sangh holds the registration, which protects the product’s geographical origin, reputation and traditional knowledge.

The tag also supports premium branding in India and international markets. The report describes popped makhana as high in protein at 9–10%, low in calories, gluten-free, low-glycaemic and naturally crunchy.

The source lists several expanding value-added categories:

• Roasted and multi-flavour snacks, including masala, peri-peri and achari.
• Powders and flour for health mixes.
• Premium packaged makhana.

Is domestic demand attractive to brands?

The source estimates that India’s domestic makhana market grew 17–18% annually in recent years. It expects the market to reach Rs 11,000–12,000 crore by around 2029–30, driven by health consciousness and the rise of organised brands.

Direct sourcing by progressive brands and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) has improved member farmers’ returns, with reported price gains of 30%. Women who previously earned very little as domestic workers now hold regular employment in grading and packing units.

Local processing units and entrepreneur-led businesses help retain more value within Bihar. Some started at a small scale and grew to multi-crore turnover, employing dozens of people and connecting hundreds of farmers.

Where are exports heading?

The United States, Canada and the UAE account for the bulk of India’s makhana exports, according to the source. The product is also gaining a foothold in Europe, Australia, the Gulf and other regions.

Bihar has shipped GI-tagged Mithila Makhana consignments from Darbhanga and Purnia by sea to Australia, Canada and Greece. The source uses those consignments as evidence that exporters meet quality, packaging and traceability requirements.

What policy support now sits behind the cluster?

The report identifies a coordinated set of institutional and infrastructure moves. These include FPOs, women-led groups, producer associations—including the Mithilanchal Makhana Utpadak Sangh—common facilities and expanded local processing, grading and packaging capacity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Makhana Board in Purnia in September 2025; the report says the board now supports the cluster. The Central Sector Scheme allocates Rs 476.03 crore for 2025–26 to 2030–31, covering production, post-harvest management, value addition, branding, market development and exports.

The report links Deepawali to shared prosperity and places community groups within India’s economic and social fabric. It frames the cluster as “a cluster-based model for Atmanirbhar Bharat” and presents Bihar’s floodplains as the foundation of a high-value, globally recognised makhana supply chain.

Makhana now reaches supermarket shelves in America, Australia and the Gulf, according to the report. For processors and buyers, the test through 2030–31 is whether Bihar can turn its 82,000-hectare target, Rs 476.03 crore scheme and 30,000-MT export goal into traceable supply. Field yields and GI protection provide the base; processing capacity and export branding will determine how much value Bihar retains.