Bihar's Makhana: A Wealthy Supply Chain Issue

Nearly 90% of the world's makhana comes from Bihar, yet the state earns almost nothing from

it. Here's why. Bihar grows the raw seeds in its wetlands,

but lacks modern food processing infrastructure. So farmers sell unprocessed makhana

to traders in West Bengal, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Those states clean

it, roast it at precise temperatures around 250 to 300 degrees Celsius,

flavour it, package it under premium brands, and export it globally. They capture all

the profit. Bihar just supplies cheap raw material. The Mallah community does 80 to 90% of

the cultivation but stays poor because middlemen dominate the unorganised market.