First board meeting of the National Makhana Board held in Delhi

The Board also stressed the requirement of need-based research, development of technologies for cultivation and processing, infrastructure for grading, drying etc

The first board meeting of the National Makhana Board, chaired by the Dr Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, was held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, initiated the implementation process for both the Board and the Central Sector Scheme. The Board reviewed Annual Action Plans submitted by States and research institutions and allocated budgets for various components aimed at holistic sectoral development.

The Board meeting emphasised the need for consolidating seed requirement of states to be supplied by SAU Sabour and CAU Samastipur, Bihar for current and next year. The State Agriculture University, Central Agriculture University, Bihar and NRC Makhana Dharbhanga will train the trainers, from various states, on latest technological aspects of makhana value chain to facilitate makhana cultivation in traditional and non-traditional areas. The Board also stressed the requirement of need-based research, development of technologies for cultivation and processing, infrastructure for grading, drying, popping and packaging, promotion of modern cultivation practices, value addition, branding, market linkages and export readiness.

This foundational meeting set the roadmap for coordinated, scientific, and market-oriented growth of the makhana sector across India.