Stories
Purnia Farmer Reveals Secret to High Makhana Yield in Potato Fields
- •According to experienced farmer Vijay Kumar Singh from Purnia, makhana production is highest in fields where potatoes were previously grown.
- •The best time for planting makhana is up to the last week of February after harvesting potatoes, yielding up to 17 quintals per acre.
- •The total cost of cultivation, from plowing to extracting raw makhana, is around 30,000 rupees per acre.
- •Raw makhana sells for an average of 20,000 rupees per quintal, allowing farmers to easily earn a net profit of up to 2.5 lakh rupees.
- •Makhana gudiya is extracted three times from the field, and traders readily buy the produce on the spot.
Key Questions Answered
According to experienced farmer Vijay Kumar Singh from Purnia district, the best time for planting makhana is up to the last week of February after harvesting potatoes. For initial field preparation, plough the field by adding mustard cake, DAP, and Regent, and then spray NPK before flooding the field with water and planting the saplings.
The total cost of cultivating makhana from plowing to extracting raw makhana or gudiya is around 30,000 rupees per acre. After deducting all expenses, farmers can easily make an average net profit of up to 2.5 lakh rupees per acre.
Once planted, makhana gudiya is extracted from the field three times. The first extraction yields large-sized gudiya with pop sizes up to 8 suta which sells at high prices, while subsequent extractions yield smaller sizes and lower prices down to the 'markat gudiya'.
