Patna:Bihar’s celebrated fox nut, or makhana—now recognised internationally as a nutrient-rich superfood—will be the star attraction at Makhana Mahotsav 2025. The two-day celebration, organised by the Bihar Directorate of Horticulture, is scheduled for October 4–5 at Gyan Bhavan in Patna, and will gather farmers, entrepreneurs, processors, researchers, policy makers and industry experts under one roof.

Horticulture Director Abhishek Kumar described makhana as an integral part of Bihar’s cultural heritage. “With global interest in healthy foods rising, makhana’s reputation as a superfood has only strengthened, making the festival even more significant,” he said.

The 2025 programme will include sessions on mechanised cultivation, B2B networking, export facilitation through APEDA, and value-added processing—all aimed at opening new markets and easing expansion for stakeholders.

Over the past decade, the Makhana Development Plan has driven remarkable gains: the cultivation area has grown 171 per cent, while production of popped makhana is up 152 per cent. Supportive measures such as the Bihar Agriculture Investment Promotion Policy, the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, and the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Package (BIIPP) have reinforced this growth.

Kumar noted that global demand keeps rising, inspiring a surge of start-ups and small businesses led by Bihar’s youth and women. “This has generated local jobs and taken Bihar’s makhana to international markets,” he said, adding that the creation of a dedicated Makhana Board has given the sector fresh momentum.

Inviting the public to attend, Kumar called the festival “both engaging and informative,” promising visitors an up-close look at the newest trends in cultivation, processing, export and marketing. “Together, we can elevate Bihar’s pride to even greater heights,” he urged.