Parliament Question: Makhana production and research in West Bengal

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 810 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06/02/2026 MAKHANA PRODUCTION AND RESEARCH IN WEST BENGAL 810. SHRI SAMIK BHATTACHARYA: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) the steps taken by Government to increase production of Makhana in Uttar Dinajpur and Malda districts of West Bengal and to support local farmers involved in its cultivation; (b) initiatives being undertaken to provide training, resources and market access to Makhana farmers in West Bengal; (c) whether the National Makhana Research Centre & Makhana Board is active in West Bengal, if so, the key activities and research being carried out to improve Makhana production in West Bengal; and (d) whether there are any collaborative projects with State agricultural institutions or farmer cooperatives in Uttar Dinajpur and Malda to enhance Makhana yield and profitability? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has launched Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana during 2025-26. The scheme covers potential states of the country including West Bengal through National Makhana Board. The scheme aims for holistic development of makhana sector in the country including Production, Post-harvest management & Value addition, Research and Development, Market & Export Promotion, Brand Development, Extension activities and Capacity building. During current year the State Government has not submitted Annual Action Plan for release of funds under the scheme. Further, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises & Textiles (MSME&T), Department of West Bengal in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-National Research Centre for Makhana (NRCM), Darbhanga and ICAR-Central Institute of Post Harvest Engineering & Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana has established a common facilitation centre at Harish Chandra Processing cluster in District Malda. ICAR-CIPHET has conducted advanced technical training programmes at this centre. (c) & (d): In order to achieve its objective, National Makhana Board implements Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana in the country including West Bengal. The programmes are implemented on the basis of Annual Action Plan (AAP) received from the potential states. ICAR- NRCM as per its mandate and various State Agriculture Universities are conducting research on various aspects of makhana, which includes varietal development, mechanization and value addition technologies. At present there is no collaborative project with State Agriculture Institutes and Farmers Cooperatives in Uttar Dinajpur and Malda districts of West Bengal. *****