Parliament Question: Establishment of National Makhana Board

O.I.H.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3701 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11TH AUGUST, 2026 ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL MAKHANA BOARD

3701. SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष और िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी

be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government proposes to establish the headquarters of the National Makhana Board at Darbhanga, Bihar;

(b) if so, the current status, the proposed timeline and the details of the action plan in this regard;

(c) whether the Government is aware that Darbhanga is a major makhana-producing region in the country, that the National Research Centre for Makhana is located there, makhana has been identified under the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) initiative, and the district has the requisite infrastructure, including rail, National Highway and air connectivity and in such situation whether the Government proposes to establish the headquarters of the National Makhana Board at Darbhanga; and

(d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): National Makhana Board was constituted on 14.09.2025 in Bihar with objective to promote the production, processing, value addition, marketing and export promotion of makhana.

The Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana was approved on

14.09.2025 with an outlay of ₹ 476.03 crore to support the overall development of the makhana sector. Financial assistance under the scheme is provided to States by the National Makhana Board based on the approved Annual Action Plan (AAP).

(c) & (d): As per the Second Advance Estimates (2025–26) released by the Horticulture Statistics Unit, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Bihar is the leading producer of makhana in the country, with a production of 60,000 MT in 2025–26 and an average productivity of 2.00 MT per hectare. The major producing districts are Katihar, Purnia, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura and Sitamarhi.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Research Centre (NRC) on Makhana is situated in Darbhanga. The institute is engaged in research, technology development, capacity building and extension for enhancing the production, productivity, processing, value addition and marketing of Makhana.

Further, to promote local industries under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises

(PMFME) Scheme, makhana has been identified as the ODOP product for Araria, Katihar, Madhubani, Supaul and Saharsa including Darbhanga district. ******