Bihar’s Makhana Industry: Why the State Is Known as the World’s Makhana Hub

Patna: Makhana, also known as fox nuts or gorgon nuts, has moved far beyond its traditional role in Indian households. The crunchy snack is now increasingly popular in packaged foods and international markets, and one Indian state sits at the centre of its production: Bihar.

The state is widely recognised as the world's leading makhana-producing region, with cultivation, processing and trade deeply connected to the rural economy of northern Bihar.

Bihar Dominates Makhana Production

Bihar accounts for nearly three-fourths of India's makhana output and is estimated to contribute around 80–85% of global supply, according to figures cited from the Press Information Bureau.

During 2025–26, Bihar's production was estimated at roughly 60,000 metric tonnes, compared with about 80,590 metric tonnes produced across India.

This makes the state a major force in both the domestic and international makhana market.

North Bihar Is the Main Growing Region

Makhana is an aquatic crop that grows in ponds, wetlands and shallow water bodies. Much of Bihar's production is concentrated in the northern part of the state.

The Kosi basin, Mithila and Seemanchal are particularly important areas. Major producing districts include Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Katihar, Purnia, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Araria and Sitamarhi.

For many farming communities, makhana is not simply a commercial crop. Its cultivation and processing have been part of the region's agricultural traditions for generations.

Mithila Makhana Gets Geographical Recognition

The connection between Bihar and makhana has also received formal recognition.

Mithila Makhana received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in August 2022. The designation recognises the product's distinctive qualities and its association with traditional production practices in the Mithila region.

Darbhanga is also home to the ICAR-National Research Centre for Makhana, established in 2002. The institution focuses on research involving cultivation, productivity and processing techniques.

Government Push for the Makhana Sector

The industry has increasingly attracted government attention as demand for makhana grows.

A National Makhana Board was constituted in Bihar in 2025. In addition, the Centre approved a ₹476.03-crore scheme covering the development of the makhana sector from 2025–26 through 2030–31.

The programme focuses on areas such as improved planting material, farming methods, processing infrastructure, branding and export development.

Bihar’s Makhana Reaches International Markets

The crop's importance is no longer limited to India's domestic market.

In August 2026, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority facilitated the first commercial sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana to Australia. The shipment consisted of 18 metric tonnes sourced from farmers in Darbhanga.

The development reflects the growing international demand for Indian makhana and the increasing focus on taking region-specific agricultural products into overseas markets.

Why Bihar Is Called the Makhana Capital

Bihar's combination of suitable water bodies, long-established cultivation practices, specialised processing knowledge and a large production base has made it synonymous with makhana.

As the snack gains popularity among consumers in India and abroad, Bihar's traditional crop is developing into a significant agricultural and export opportunity.

From ponds in northern Bihar to international markets, makhana has become an important part of the state's agricultural identity—and Bihar remains at the heart of the global makhana industry.

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