Makhanas are called fox nuts, lotus seeds, gorgon nuts, and Phool makhana. Makhanas are often used in Indian sweets and savories like kheer, snack or curry, etc.
Superfood makhana is enriched with fibre, proteins, and low fat. 100 grams of makhana gives 347 calories, 9.7 grams of protein, 14.5 grams of fibre.
Makhana is a great source of calcium; it also involves magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus in a good ratio.
Food Processing Minister Narendra Singh Tomar informed that demand for value-added products of Makhana is likely to grow by 25-40% in the next three years. Makhana products are in great demand worldwide, like India, China, Japan, and Thailand.
There is no separate HS code of makhana and its product for export and import; this is why there is no figure available for the exports and imports of such products as of now.
To promote the Makhana and its product export, the government has identified six districts of Bihar, he added – Araria, Darbhanga, Katihar, Madhubani, Saharsa, and Supaul – scheme named as One District One Product for makhana.
APEDA arranges buyer-seller meets for export promotion of nutrients’ cereal and health products, including makhana.
A regional research station on makhana at Darbhanga under the Indian Council of Agriculture Research has developed and released the first variety of makhana – ‘Swarn Vaidehi’ – to improvise makhana productivity.
