Spurred by rising international appetite for nutritious superfoods, fox nuts harvested across Bihar are making substantial inroads into major global consumer centres. Bihar Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha announced on Friday that the state's signature harvest is currently supplied to more than 20 countries. Building on this momentum, the state administration has established an ambitious target to scale annual export volumes to 30,000 metric tonnes by the financial year 2030-31. To facilitate this expansion, authorities are collaborating closely with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to market GI-tagged Mithila Makhana across global supply chains.
Five-Year Roadmap to Double Cultivation and Output
In a bid to augment rural incomes, the state government is executing a dedicated five-year strategy titled the Makhana Se Samriddhi Abhiyan, spanning financial years 2026-27 through 2030-31. This initiative focuses on doubling the operational acreage, boosting overall harvest output, and capturing a commanding share of international trade. Bihar presently accounts for approximately 80 to 85 percent of India's total makhana production, positioning the state as the undisputed heartland of the crop.
Global Shipments Generate 22 Million Dollars in Revenue
Data provided by the agriculture minister highlights that during the 2025-26 fiscal cycle, India shipped in excess of 7,200 metric tonnes of makhana and value-added derivative goods overseas. These outbound consignments yielded 2.2 crore US dollars in foreign exchange earnings. Demand trends reflect sharp growth across North America, Western Asia, and several African territories. During the current year, verified consignments of GI-certified Mithila Makhana reached retail shelves in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Greece.
Direct Sea Freight Delivers 18 Metric Tonnes to Australia
Marking a critical logistical breakthrough, an 18-metric-tonne cargo of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana was recently dispatched via maritime shipping lanes directly to Australia from the Bihta Industrial Area under the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA). Sinha emphasized that rigorous quality control, geographic certification, and enhanced direct market access are unlocking higher revenue streams for local growers. As part of this comprehensive program, authorities plan to expand the crop's cultivated footprint from 41,000 hectares recorded in 2025-26 to 82,000 hectares by 2030-31.
