Makhana farming in Assam wetlands: APSC Current Affairs Notes and MCQs

Makhana Cultivation in Assam’s Wetlands

Current Context (The Trigger)

• Wetland potential: Dr Ramani Kanta Thakuria is Director of Open and Distance Learning, AAU. He said nearly one lakh hectares of Assam’s natural wetlands could be used to grow makhana.
• Survey gap: The area where makhana grows naturally has not been surveyed yet. Experts put it at 40,000 to 50,000 hectares.
• Old harvest data: Preliminary studies in 2012 looked at about 10,000 hectares in Jorhat, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh districts. They found that 50-60 tonnes of seeds were harvested every year.
• Field method: Low-lying land where paddy does not pay could be shifted to makhana. The crop needs less water than paddy.

Core Concepts & Static GK

• What is makhana: It is also called fox nut or gorgon nut. Its botanical name is Euryale ferox. It is an aquatic crop grown mainly in shallow ponds, lakes and wetlands.
• Food value: It is valued as a nutritious snack. It is low in fat and has balanced protein with 18 essential amino acids.
• Value chain: Work is created at every step: harvesting, drying, grading, popping, packaging and marketing.
• Cultivation methods: The traditional system needs about three metres of water. The field method needs only about 1 to 1.5 feet and gives higher productivity than pond and beel cultivation.
• Sunlight and air: About 10-20 per cent of the water surface should be kept open. This lets sunlight in and keeps the water aerated.
• GI tag: “Mithila Makhana” from the Mithila region of Bihar has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Constitutional & Legal Framework

• Wetlands Rules, 2017: The Centre notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules on 26 September 2017 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. They follow the principle of “wise use” of wetlands. So makhana farming in a natural beel must not damage the wetland.

Schemes & Initiatives

• National Makhana Board: It was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched it at Purnea, Bihar, on 15 September 2025.
• Central scheme: The Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana has an outlay of Rs 476.03 crore for 2025-26 to 2030-31.

Reports, Indices & Data

• Bihar leads: Bihar is India’s leading makhana-producing state.

Assam & Northeast Linkages

• Deepor Beel: Makhana leaves spread widely over Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary between February and April. Wild elephants enter the wetland to eat the plant and its fruits. They mostly leave the leaves alone. Their feeding also opens the water surface to sunlight. An expert called this “a natural solution to this natural predicament”.
• Ramsar status: Deepor Beel is a Ramsar site, designated on 19 August 2002.
• Favourable climate: Assam’s humid subtropical climate, heavy rainfall and plentiful water suit the crop.
• Existing industry: Assam already has a makhana popping industry.

Introduction

Assam has many beels and low-lying fields. Experts say makhana can turn some of them into a source of farm income. The task is to grow it without harming the wetland itself.

Economic Rationale

• Diversification: Makhana gives farmers another crop, especially on land where paddy is not economical.
• Rural jobs: Harvesting, drying, grading, popping, packaging and marketing all give work.
• Water saving: The crop needs less water than paddy.
• Market: More local production and processing could meet rising demand in the Northeast. It could also reach national and international markets.

Challenges

• Low awareness: Dr Ranjita Bezbaruah, scientist (Agronomy), AAU, named lack of awareness as a major constraint.
• Seed supply: Enough seed will come only from scientific cultivation.
• Water swings: Sudden changes in water level can damage the crop. Natural water bodies drying early because of climate change are another threat.
• Weak data: The natural growth area has not been surveyed.
• Ecology risk: Careless expansion could hurt wetland biodiversity and fisheries.

Government & Statutory Measures

Way Ahead

• Mapping: Map agro-climatic suitability at district, block and village levels.
• Pilots: Start pilot projects. Then expand step by step with government help and farmer groups.
• Quality: Build quality control, proper packaging and processing units.
• Safeguards: Use scientific land-use planning so that wetland wildlife and fish stocks stay safe.

Conclusion

Makhana can add income and jobs in rural Assam. It will work only if farming is planned with the wetland in mind.