Patna: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday, February 23 met Makhana (fox nut) farmers in Bihar’s Darbhanga while stepping into the ‘muddy’ pond and held a discussion with them to understand the process of its cultivation.
He was also apprised of the difficulties faced by farmers in the cultivation of fox nut crops since the cultivators are expected to stay in the pond all day.
The central government has announced the formation of the Makhana board in this year’s budget. As this happened, Chouhan sought suggestions from the farmers to ease their burden.
The Union Minister mentioned that he would discuss the establishment of the Makhana Board, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in the recent Union Budget.
Earlier in the day, Chouhan said that he would discuss the establishment of the Makhana Board, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in the recent Union Budget.
“Bihar is an extraordinary state. The talent here, the farmers, and especially the makhana (fox nut) are all remarkable. Currently, makhana farmers face many difficulties, and through technology, these problems will be addressed,” Chouhan said.
#WATCH | Bihar | Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visits National Research Centre for Makhana (NRCM) in Darbhanga along with Dy CM of Bihar, Samrat Choudhary pic.twitter.com/Z4W8FeJpLF
— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2025
He added, “This is why the Makhana Board is being established. Our effort is to ensure that there is a discussion with makhana farmers first. Today, I will sit with the makhana farmers and have a conversation because no one can better tell us what needs to be done than them.”
The Union Minister also reacted to Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav’s remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthwith visit to Bihar and said that the PM does not stay confined in his bungalow but goes among the people.
“Tejashwi Yadav should know that today, the Prime Minister is going to Madhya Pradesh; there is no election there. Tomorrow, he will come to Bihar and then go to Assam; there is no election there. Look at the previous visits of the Prime Minister; our Prime Minister does not stay confined in his bungalow; he goes among the people,” he said.
This comes after Tejashwi Yadav took a jibe at NDA over PM Modi’s visit to Bhagalpur, saying, “Every day someone will come now. Delhi election has ended and everyone will come to Bihar. They don’t care about the people of Bihar. They only care about power.”
Notably, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, proposed to form a Makhana Board in the state of Bihar. Makhana or foxnuts, a nutritious food, is widely produced and consumed in Bihar. Under the One District One Product scheme, Makhana producers have benefited hugely. The Makhana Research Center has been given the status of a national institution, with Makhanas having also received a GI tag.
“Makhna Board will be established in Bihar to improve production, processing, value addition and marketing of Makhana. The people engaged in these activities will be organized into FPOs. The board will provide handholding and training support to Makhana farmers and will also work to ensure they receive the benefits of all relevant government schemes,” Sitharaman said. (With inputs from ANI)
