Bhagalpur (Bihar) [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday revealed his personal preference for Makhana (foxnut), calling it a “superfood” and emphasizing its potential in global markets. Speaking at a rally in Bhagalpur, the Prime Minister said, “Now Makhana has become a staple part of breakfast in cities across the country. Speaking personally, I eat makhana at least 300 out of 365 days a year. It is a superfood that we must now take to global markets. That’s why, in this year’s budget, the government has announced the formation of a Makhana Board for the benefit of makhana farmers.”
PM Modi explained that the newly proposed Makhana Board will focus on value addition, better marketing strategies, and improving the livelihoods of farmers in Bihar, where Makhana is traditionally grown.
Upon his arrival at the rally for the release of the 19th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), the Prime Minister was warmly welcomed with a garland made entirely of foxnuts. Addressing the large crowd, Modi emphasized agricultural exports and farmers’ welfare. “In the past years, with the efforts of the government, the agricultural export sector has increased manifold. With this, the farmers have been receiving higher prices for their produce. Many farmer products are being exported for the first time. It is now time for Bihar’s foxnuts ‘Makhana,'” he said.
Highlighting Bihar’s unique offerings, PM Modi added, “Be it superfood Makhana or Bhagalpur’s silk, our focus is on taking such special products of Bihar to the markets across the world.”
The Prime Minister also elaborated on the government’s broader agricultural initiatives under the ‘PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana.’ This new scheme targets 100 districts with the lowest crop production to boost farming activities.
Celebrating another milestone, Modi announced the successful formation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) nationwide, with Bihar hosting the 10,000th FPO in Khagaria district, focusing on maize, bananas, and paddy crops. “This marks an important step in supporting farmers and strengthening regional agricultural practices,” he said.
The PM-KISAN scheme, launched on February 24, 2019, provides annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 to eligible farmer families. So far, over ₹3.46 lakh crore has been disbursed to more than 11 crore farmers across India.
With the Bihar Legislative Assembly elections approaching in October or November this year, PM Modi’s visit and emphasis on farmer welfare are seen as significant political moves in the state.