East Champaran selected for makhana cultivation under expansion scheme

Motihari: Under the makhana (foxnut) cultivation expansion scheme, the agriculture department has selected East Champaran district for makhana production, thanks to the availability of extensive water bodies. Farmers in the district will take up makhana cultivation for the first time and officials said if the experiment is successful, large-scale makhana production will begin in the area next year.Farmers who were earlier engaged mainly in grain cultivation along with limited fish farming will now adopt a new crop, which is expected to improve their economic condition. Vikash Kumar, district horticulture officer, said the department has set a target to cultivate makhana in 10 hectares of water bodies. “The department has fixed its target to cultivate makhana in only 10 hectares of water bodies,” he said, adding that the govt has also decided to promote the production of makhana seeds in the district.He said makhana farmers would receive a subsidy of 75% of the total cost per hectare. “The farmers of makhana will get a subsidy of 75% of the total cost per hectare which is Rs 72,750 out of total cost of Rs 97,000,” Kumar said. He added that the subsidy would be released in two instalments, with Rs 50,150 paid in the first instalment and the remaining amount in the second and final instalment.According to official sources, the district has 823 govt ponds, 200 private ponds and nine other water bodies spread over about 1,950 acres of land. In addition, there are 28 lakes with a water area of 7,486 acres. Despite these resources, the potential for fisheries, makhana and caltrop or chestnut (Singhara) cultivation has not been fully utilised. The govt is considering ways to exploit this potential and adopt composite fish culture techniques. The annual fish production in the district is around 2,600 tonnes, valued at Rs 26 crore, without any organised marketing management system.