Stories
Bihar Superfood Makhana Reaches Four Countries Through Bairia Farmer Ranjeet Chaudhary
- •Ranjeet Chaudhary from Bairia started makhana cultivation four years ago by sowing seeds in a natural river.
- •Harvesting yielded around 600 kg of raw makhana per acre using only 10 kg of seeds.
- •Ranjeet cultivated makhana across 20 acres, producing a total of 12 tonnes of raw makhana.
- •Processed and flavored makhana is sold for up to Rs 1700 per kg after branding and packaging.
- •Makhana has been successfully exported to countries like Argentina, Nepal, Canada, and Afghanistan.
Key Questions Answered
Ranjeet Chaudhary started makhana cultivation about four years ago by scattering seeds in a natural river in the Bairia block. After sowing in December, the crop was harvested by September, yielding about 600 kg of raw makhana per acre from just 10 kg of seeds.
Ranjeet has expanded his makhana business internationally by exporting products to countries such as Argentina, Nepal, Canada, and Afghanistan. He fulfilled a major demand of 2,000 kg from a city in Nepal, alongside sending smaller sample shipments to Canada and Argentina.
The local market price for raw makhana ranges between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,300 per kg. To increase profitability, Ranjeet processes and packages the makhana into various flavors, which can command prices of up to Rs 1,700 per kg.
