Where Is the Makhana Board in Bihar?
The National Makhana Board is headquartered in Darbhanga, Bihar. It was notified on 14 September 2025 under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DAFW) as a Central Sector Scheme body.
Bihar produces over 80% of the world’s makhana (foxnuts). The board covers six districts where makhana is designated under the One District One Product (ODOP) programme:
| District | Role in Makhana Production |
|---|---|
| Darbhanga | Board headquarters; largest production cluster |
| Madhubani | Traditional cultivation zone; high FPO density |
| Sitamarhi | Northern wetland belt |
| Supaul | Kosi river floodplain cultivation |
| Purnia | Eastern Bihar processing hub |
| Kishanganj | Emerging cultivation area |
These six districts account for the bulk of India’s commercial foxnut output.
Answer
The Makhana Board is a single-purpose body. It exists to move foxnut farming from informal, intermediary-dependent selling to organised, export-grade production. It does this through three mechanisms: forming FPOs, subsidising processing units, and building export-ready branding.
Regulatory Background
The board operates under the DAFW’s Central Sector Scheme and integrates with the PMFME (Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises) programme. Under PMFME, micro-processing units in ODOP districts can access a 35% capital subsidy on project costs, capped at ₹10 lakh per unit.
According to the Budget Implementation Report, ₹877 lakh has already been disbursed to 292 micro-processing units across these districts. The board’s inaugural meeting on 12 December 2025 set operational benchmarks for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
For context on the broader food processing policy framework, the PMFME works alongside PMKSY and the PLI scheme for food processing.
How the Board Works
The board addresses three problems in sequence:
-
Fragmentation. Foxnut farming in Bihar is scattered across thousands of small producers with no collective bargaining power. The board provides institutional support to form makhana-specific FPOs — groups of farmers who pool resources, negotiate prices collectively, and access formal credit.
-
Processing. Most makhana is still popped manually, which limits output and hygiene standards. The 292 approved PMFME units are being equipped for mechanical processing. This reduces labour intensity and meets the FSSAI standards required for packaged retail and export.
-
Market access. Raw makhana sells for a fraction of its retail value. The board’s strategy is to shift output from unprocessed bulk sales to flavoured, branded, export-ready products. ODOP branding (e.g., Mithila Makhana GI tag) positions Bihar’s foxnuts as a premium health food in international markets.
Practical Implications
For farmers: FPO membership provides access to collective storage, mechanical processing, and direct buyer contracts — bypassing the intermediary chain that currently captures most of the margin.
For processors and investors: The 35% PMFME subsidy on project costs lowers the capital barrier for setting up micro-processing units. With 292 units already approved, the model is past the pilot stage.
For exporters: Bihar’s foxnuts already carry demand in North America, Europe, and East Asia as a gluten-free, high-protein snack. The board’s export branding and FSSAI compliance work reduce the friction of entering these markets.
What to Do
- Check ODOP eligibility. If you operate in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Supaul, Purnia, or Kishanganj, verify your eligibility for the 35% PMFME subsidy at pmfme.mofpi.gov.in.
- Explore FPO investment. Institutional investors can provide growth capital to makhana FPOs for common facility centres — shared processing, grading, and packaging infrastructure.
- Review export opportunities. Contact the board for details on export-oriented branding programmes and FSSAI certification pathways.
Sources
Verify current status at nseindia.com, bseindia.com, or msei.in before trading.