On October 4, 2025, Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended Makhana Mahotsav 2025 at Gyan Bhavan, Patna. He described makhana as an "extraordinary blessing" for the poor, highlighting Bihar's emergence as a global hub for makhana production. Minister Chouhan released a report titled ‘Makhana: From Culture to Prosperity', and noted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently extended a gift worth ₹64,000 crore to the youth, especially those from Bihar. He also discussed the Central Government's recent Minimum Support Price (MSP) hike, confirming the Centre's commitment to procuring all lentils (masoor), urad, and arhar grown by Bihar's farmers at MSP. Cultivation area of Makhana has expanded from 3,000 to 35,000 - 40,000 hectares. Minister Chouhan announced the establishment of a Makhana Board to promote research, development, marketing, branding, and promotion of makhana, with a sanctioned budget of ₹475 crore for modern machinery, new variety development, and processing facilities. Release ID: 2174801.
Key Entities Referenced
Makhana Board: A new board established to promote research, development, marketing, branding, and promotion of makhana (fox nut).
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The ministry under which the Makhana Mahotsav 2025 event and related initiatives are organized.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): The government-set price floor for agricultural products, including lentils (masoor), urad, and arhar grown by Bihar's farmers.
Bihar: The state where makhana cultivation and production is concentrated, and where the Makhana Mahotsav 2025 took place.
Makhana Mahotsav 2025: An event focused on promoting makhana (fox nut) production and related development in Bihar.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural
Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan attends
Makhana Mahotsav 2025 at Gyan Bhavan, Patna
Shri Chouhan calls makhana (fox nut) an
“extraordinary blessing” for the poor
“Bihar has become a global hub for makhana
production”: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
“Bihar is witnessing showers of prosperity and
development”: Shri Chouhan
Posted On: 04 OCT 2025 4:40PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
today visited Patna during his one-day tour of Bihar, where the Minister participated in ‘Makhana Mahotsav
2025’ held at Gyan Bhavan, Gandhi Maidan, and released the report titled ‘Makhana: From Culture to
Prosperity’ (Makhana: Sanskriti se Samridhhi).In his address, Minister Chouhan said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently extended a historic
gift worth ₹64,000 crore to the youth, especially those from Bihar. “Bihar is witnessing showers of prosperity
and development — the Sun of a developed India is shining brightly on the state’s destiny,” he remarked.
The Union Minister also referred to the recent hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the
Central Government for farmers. He stated that the Centre will procure all the produce of lentils (masoor),urad, and arhar grown by Bihar’s farmers at MSP.
Calling makhana an “extraordinary blessing” for the poor, Shri Chouhan said Bihar has now emerged not just
as India’s but also the world’s leading centre for makhana production. He noted that the cultivation area,
which earlier covered around 3,000 hectares, has now expanded to 35,000–40,000 hectares.
Shri Chouhan announced that the Central Government has notified the establishment of a Makhana Board to
promote research, development, marketing, branding, and promotion of makhana. He added that nearly ₹475
crore has been sanctioned for modern machinery, new variety development, and processing facilities to boost
makhana production and value addition.Appealing to Bihar’s youth to launch startups in the makhana sector, the Union Minister assured full support
from the Central Government. “Our goal is to take makhana from India to dining tables across the world,
ensuring a steady rise in farmers’ incomes,” Shri Chouhan said.
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RC/AR/MK
(Release ID: 2174801)