Makhana Cultivation and Price: Black Diamond is ‘Makhana’, profitable business crop

Last updated:February 25, 2025, 11:10 IST

Makhana Cultivation and Price: Makhana is an important business crop, which is mainly cultivated in Bihar. Makhana is in great demand worldwide due to being rich in protein and mineral.

Makhana Cultivation and Price: The Modi government seems to be very serious about the production and farming of Makhane. In the budget, the central government has announced the formation of Makhana Board in Bihar, and now preparations are going on in this direction. On February 24, in Bhagalpur, Bihar, PM Narendra Modi said that Makhana is superfood and it has to be transported to the markets all over the world. In such a situation, the cultivation of makhana can prove to be very effective and beneficial for the farmers. But, do you know how Makhane is cultivated, how beneficial it is, and at what sense Makhana is sold. Let us tell you in detail about the cultivation of Makhane…

Why Makhana is called ‘Black Diamond’

Makhana, which is known as Fox Nut in English. It is a dry food seed of a prickly Goragan plant. This plant is found in freshwater ponds across South and East Asia. The edible part of the Makhana plant is made of small, round seeds, whose outer layer is black to brown, which is why it is called ‘Black Diamond’. It is an expensive trading crop.

Protein and mineral rich makhana

Makhana, Makhana is highly nutritious dryfruit, which provides carbohydrates, proteins and other minerals to the body. Makhane can be consumed and used in various forms with medical, healthcare and nutrition value.

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What kind of climate is needed for farming?

Makhana is an aquatic crop and is mainly grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Traditionally, it is cultivated in stable water bodies such as ponds, land depression, lakes, trenches or 4-6 feet of shallow water depth wetlands. Usually the makhana crop is ready in 120 days.

Makhana is mainly cultivated in Bihar. Apart from this, it is also done in Assam, Manipur, West Bengal, Tripura and Odisha. Although Bihar is the largest producer of Makhana, it has failed to meet the growing demand in the domestic and global market. On the other hand, Punjab and Assam are the largest exporters of Makhana in India.

How beneficial Makhana cultivation

Makhane is mainly used as snacks. How big a profitable deal of Makhana is can be gauged from the fact that while the price of one kilogram in India is Rs 1600, it is priced at Rs 8000 per kg in the international market.

According to The Hindu report, Makhana is being sold at the rate of around Rs 8,000 per kg in the wholesale international market, which was Rs 1,000 per kg 10 years ago. It is in great demand as a source of vegetarian protein in the world.