**Executive Summary**
This document outlines the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the establishment of the National Makhana Board in Bihar, as announced in the 2025-26 budget. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has constituted the board to improve makhana production, processing, value addition, and marketing, with a budget of ₹100 crore for 2025-26. Assistance is available to farmers for various facilities as detailed in the Annexure.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Makhana Board Establishment:**
* The National Makhana Board has been established in Bihar via Gazette Notification No. 28/02/2025-Hort. Tech-I dated 14 September 2025.
* The board aims to improve the production, post-harvest processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana.
* A budget of ₹100 crore has been allocated for the year 2025-26.
* **Assistance to Farmers:**
* Farmers are eligible for assistance related to capacity building, production, post-harvest processing, value addition, market and export promotion, and brand development of makhana.
* The Annexure details support available for farmers in various components under central sector scheme for development of makhana executed by National Makhana Board.
* **Components for Assistance:**
* Production: Enhancement of Production and Productivity
* Post-harvest Processing and Value Addition of Makhana
* Research & Development for Technological Interventions in Makhana Sector
* Market & Export Promotion and Brand Development for Makhana
* Exposure visits of farmers
* Seminars, conferences, trade summit, awareness programmes for farmers
* Residual analysis, food quality testing lab facility for farmers
* Centre of Excellence for training and technology demonstration for farmers
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Farmers**
* **Impact:** Farmers benefit from various facilities including capacity building, enhanced production techniques, post-harvest processing improvements, value addition opportunities, market and export promotion support, and brand development initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Review the Annexure to understand available support, apply for relevant schemes, and participate in training and awareness programs.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for overseeing the functioning of the National Makhana Board and ensuring the effective implementation of the planned initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the progress of the National Makhana Board, ensure budgetary allocations are utilized efficiently, and evaluate the impact of the initiatives on makhana production and farmer welfare.
Key Entities Referenced
National Makhana Board: A board constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to improve the production, post-harvest processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana.
Bihar: The location where the Makhana Board is set up.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The government ministry responsible for constituting the 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.393
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02ND DECEMBER, 2025
SETTING-UP OF MAKHANA BOARD IN BIHAR
393. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:
SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:
SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं(cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the proposal to set up Makhana Board in Bihar, announced in
Serial No. 18 in the Budget Speech for the year 2025-26;
(b) whether any facility is being provided to farmers through the Makhana Board and if so,
the details thereof; and
(c) the list of facilities being provided to farmers along with the manner in which the said
facilities are being provided?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, has
constituted the National Makhana Board in Bihar vide Gazette Notification No.
28/02/2025-Hort.Tech-I dated 14 September 2025, as per the Budget Announcement
2025-26. The Board has been established with the objectives of improving the
production, post-harvest processing & value addition and marketing of makhana, with
a budgetary allocation of ₹100 crore for the year 2025-26.
(b) & (c): Assistance is available to farmers for various facilities for capacity building,
production, post-harvest processing, value addition, market & export promotion and
brand development of makhana. The details of the support available for farmers are
given at Annexure.Annexure
Assistance to farmer’s for various components under central sector scheme
for development of makhana executed by National Makhana Board
S. No. Components
A Production: Enhancement of Production and Productivity
1 Seed production of improved varieties
2 Area Expansion
3 Construction of new pond
4 Frontline Demonstrations with integrated farming
5 Training of farmers
6 Harvesting equipments
B Post-harvest Processing and Value Addition of Makhana
1 On farm handling unit
2 Micro level Makhana processing
3 Small level Makhana processing
4 Medium level Makhana processing
5 Large level Makhana processing
Research & Development for Technological Interventions in
C
Makhana Sector
D Market & Export Promotion and Brand Development for Makhana
1 Buyer Seller, Promotional Meets
2 Makhana Pavilions in National Level Trade Fairs
3 Infrastructure Support for Setting Up of Sales Outlets
4 Scheme for Quality Certification
5 Brand Building Support
6 Setting up of Makhana Pavilions in major international fairs
7 Assistance to exporters for participation in International Exhibition
8 Award for Export Excellence
E Exposure visits of farmers
Seminars, conferences, trade summit, awareness programmes for
F
farmers
G Residual analysis, food quality testing lab facility for farmers
Centre of Excellence for training and technology demonstration for
H
farmers
******