The Uttar Pradesh government has encouraged farmers to move away from traditional farming and adopt higher-value crops with a focus on Makhana (foxnut). UP Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Horticulture, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Foreign Trade, and Agricultural Exports, Dinesh Pratap Singh, on Monday announced the launch of the “Makhana Vikas Yojana” in the state.
The objective of this scheme is to promote makhana production in the state and strengthen the economic condition of farmers.
The Government of India had constituted the National Makhana Board in Bihar this year and, in the first phase, has decided to implement the Makhana Development Scheme in 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh, from 2025. The implementation of the Makhana Development Scheme in the state will be done by the Horticulture Department, Uttar Pradesh.
Singh said here that the department has prepared an action plan for the implementation of Makhana Vikas Yojana in the financial year 2025-26 and has been approved by the Government of India.
“Since only a few months are left for the end of the financial year, the Government of India has approved Rs 1. 58 crore for the implementation of the scheme for programmes such as construction of ponds for Makhana cultivation, farmer training, frontline demonstrations, organising buyer-seller meets, publicity through Makhana Pavilion, participation of exporters in international exhibitions/trade fairs and organising district level and state-level seminars/conferences, visiting other states, as well as setting up a Centre of Excellence for Makhana,” the minister disclosed.
He said for the comprehensive implementation of Makhana Development Scheme in the next financial year, the department will implement the scheme on a large scale by including programmes like expansion of Makhana cultivation area, production of quality planting material and processing and value addition of Makhana.
Inaugurating the scheme, the Minister stated that foxnuts are known as a “superfood” due to their medicinal properties and high market value.
“Until now, their cultivation was primarily limited to Bihar, but Uttar Pradesh’s climate and waterlogged areas, where other crops cannot be grown, will make them a boon. The Purvanchal districts of the state, such as Kushinagar, Siddharthnagar, Ghazipur, Ballia, Maharajganj, Varanasi, and Basti, are highly conducive to foxnut production,” the minister claimed.