Bihar has long been a major centre for Makhana production in India. Now, with fox nuts gaining acceptance as a healthy snack and superfood in the international market, demand has increased rapidly. In this changing scenario, the government has accelerated schemes related to fox nut cultivation to encourage farmers.

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What is the Makhana Area Expansion Scheme?

The Makhana Area Expansion Scheme, launched by the Department of Agriculture, aims to increase Makhana cultivation under a field-based system. Under this scheme, farmers are being encouraged to produce Makhana through government subsidies. This scheme is specifically for farmers who are already registered on the departmental DBT portal.

Application Process and Deadline

Interested farmers can apply online for this scheme through the Bihar Agriculture app or the official website of the Directorate of Horticulture. The last date for application is January 15th. Applying within the deadline is mandatory; otherwise, farmers will not be able to avail the benefits of the scheme.

Cost, Subsidy, and Payment System

The unit cost per hectare for Makhana cultivation has been fixed at Rs. 0.97 lakh. This includes the cost of seeds, fertilisers, other inputs, and harvesting. In the first year, farmers will receive a subsidy of Rs. 36,375 per hectare. The seed amount will be paid directly to the supplier after the seeds are received, while the remaining subsidy amount will be transferred to the farmers’ accounts after planting.

Area Covered by the Scheme

A farmer can avail the benefits of this scheme for a minimum of 0.25 acres (0.1 hectares) and a maximum of 5 acres (2 hectares). This will provide an opportunity for both small and medium-sized farmers to participate in the scheme.

Makhana Seed Production and Distribution Scheme

Under the Makhana Seed Production Scheme, seeds of improved varieties Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1 will be produced through selected institutions. Under the Seed Distribution Scheme, the government will assist up to Rs. 225 per kg for selected seeds. If the seed price is higher than this, the farmer will have to bear the additional cost.

Which districts will benefit?

This scheme will benefit farmers in 16 districts of Bihar. These include Katihar, Purnea, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Kishanganj, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura, Saharsa, Khagaria, Samastipur, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, and Muzaffarpur.

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A major step towards increasing farmers’ income

This government initiative will expand the area under fox nut (makhana) cultivation and provide farmers with improved seeds and modern technology. This will not only increase production but also help stabilise and strengthen the income of Makhana farmers.