Makhana Cultivation
Context:
Recently, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the formation of a Makhana Board in Bihar.
Relevance:
GS-03 (Agriculture)
About Makhana:
- Makhana is also known as foxnut.
- It is cultivated in still perennial water bodies like lakes and ponds. And it is also one of the most important aquatic crops of India.
- Makhana is a plant that grows in subtropical and tropical climates.
- Adequate conditions:
- Temperature between 22°C and 37°C.
- Humidity levels between 40% and 95%.
- Annual rainfall between 120 cm and 270 cm.
- States:
- Majorly found in Bihar, West Bengal, and Manipur.
- However, it is also grown in Tripura, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh.
- Bihar is the leading producer of Makhana.
- Makhana has been classified under the “One District One Product scheme” of the government, where subsidies are provided to food processors for branding, marketing, and developing infrastructure.
