Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity

Makhana, also known as gorgon nut, is a nutrient-rich aquatic crop that is primarily cultivated in India, with northern Bihar being the major production region. With a cultivation history of over 2,000 years, makhana is recognized for its nutritional profile, which includes approximately 76.9% carbo...

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Autores principales: Pahwa, Vanshika, Sirsikar, Ishita, Singh, Ritambhara, Shukla, Navneet Prabhakar, Verma, Kannan Kumar, Sachdev, Avinash
Formato: Conference Proceedings
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176774
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author Pahwa, Vanshika
Sirsikar, Ishita
Singh, Ritambhara
Shukla, Navneet Prabhakar
Verma, Kannan Kumar
Sachdev, Avinash
author_browse Pahwa, Vanshika
Sachdev, Avinash
Shukla, Navneet Prabhakar
Singh, Ritambhara
Sirsikar, Ishita
Verma, Kannan Kumar
author_facet Pahwa, Vanshika
Sirsikar, Ishita
Singh, Ritambhara
Shukla, Navneet Prabhakar
Verma, Kannan Kumar
Sachdev, Avinash
author_sort Pahwa, Vanshika
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Makhana, also known as gorgon nut, is a nutrient-rich aquatic crop that is primarily cultivated in India, with northern Bihar being the major production region. With a cultivation history of over 2,000 years, makhana is recognized for its nutritional profile, which includes approximately 76.9% carbohydrates, 9.7% protein, and essential minerals. More than 85% of India’s makhana is produced in the districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnia, and Katihar in Bihar, covering an estimated 15,000 hectares. The annual production of makhana is around 120,000 metric tons (MT) of seeds, resulting in 40,000–50,000 MT of popped makhana. The sector is expected to generate revenues of approximately ₹600 crore at the trader level. However, exports are limited, with roughly 1% of the production reaching international markets such as the USA, UK, Australia, and Gulf countries. In 2022, the Government of India registered ‘Mithila Makhana’ as a Geographical Indication (GI), recognizing its regional and product-specific characteristics. Under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, six makhana-producing districts in Bihar have been selected for focused development. Additionally, the Union Budget 2025 announced the creation of a dedicated Makhana Board in Bihar to support the sector across various stages, including production, processing, value addition, and market access. The domestic market for makhana is projected to reach ₹18.9 billion by 20322, indicating potential for further growth and development in the sector. The symposium was held 20 May, 2025 at the Lemon Tree Premier in Patna, Bihar, India.
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spelling CGSpace1767742025-12-08T10:11:39Z Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity Pahwa, Vanshika Sirsikar, Ishita Singh, Ritambhara Shukla, Navneet Prabhakar Verma, Kannan Kumar Sachdev, Avinash aquatic foods policy innovation rural areas policies Makhana, also known as gorgon nut, is a nutrient-rich aquatic crop that is primarily cultivated in India, with northern Bihar being the major production region. With a cultivation history of over 2,000 years, makhana is recognized for its nutritional profile, which includes approximately 76.9% carbohydrates, 9.7% protein, and essential minerals. More than 85% of India’s makhana is produced in the districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Purnia, and Katihar in Bihar, covering an estimated 15,000 hectares. The annual production of makhana is around 120,000 metric tons (MT) of seeds, resulting in 40,000–50,000 MT of popped makhana. The sector is expected to generate revenues of approximately ₹600 crore at the trader level. However, exports are limited, with roughly 1% of the production reaching international markets such as the USA, UK, Australia, and Gulf countries. In 2022, the Government of India registered ‘Mithila Makhana’ as a Geographical Indication (GI), recognizing its regional and product-specific characteristics. Under the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, six makhana-producing districts in Bihar have been selected for focused development. Additionally, the Union Budget 2025 announced the creation of a dedicated Makhana Board in Bihar to support the sector across various stages, including production, processing, value addition, and market access. The domestic market for makhana is projected to reach ₹18.9 billion by 20322, indicating potential for further growth and development in the sector. The symposium was held 20 May, 2025 at the Lemon Tree Premier in Patna, Bihar, India. 2025-10-01 2025-10-01T20:37:34Z 2025-10-01T20:37:34Z Conference Proceedings https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176774 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Pahwa, Vanshika; Sirsikar, Ishita; Singh, Ritambhara; Shukla, Navneet Prabhakar; Verma, Kannan Kumar; and Sachdev, Avinash. 2025. Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity. New Delhi, India: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176774
spellingShingle aquatic foods
policy innovation
rural areas
policies
Pahwa, Vanshika
Sirsikar, Ishita
Singh, Ritambhara
Shukla, Navneet Prabhakar
Verma, Kannan Kumar
Sachdev, Avinash
Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity
title Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity
title_full Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity
title_fullStr Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity
title_full_unstemmed Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity
title_short Proceedings from the National Symposium on Makhana: Unlocking India’s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity
title_sort proceedings from the national symposium on makhana unlocking india s aquatic superfood for rural prosperity
topic aquatic foods
policy innovation
rural areas
policies
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176774
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