Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasized the importance of Bihar’s traditional crop, Makhana (foxnut), calling it a “superfood” that should be promoted globally. Speaking at a rally in Bhagalpur, he revealed that he personally consumes makhana “at least 300 out of 365 days a year” and highlighted the government’s plan to boost its production and marketing.
“Now, makhana has become a staple part of breakfast in cities across the country. 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 said.
The initiative, he stated, will focus on value addition, better marketing strategies, and improving the livelihoods of farmers in Bihar.
PM Modi received a warm welcome at the rally, where he was felicitated with a massive garland made of foxnuts. The event marked the release of the 19th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in the state.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to boost agricultural exports, the Prime Minister said, “In recent years, agricultural exports have increased manifold, ensuring better prices for farmers. Many farmer products are being exported for the first time. Now, it’s time for Bihar’s *makhana* to reach global markets.”
He also underscored the significance of Bihar’s special products, saying, “Be it superfood makhana or Bhagalpur’s silk, our focus is on taking Bihar’s unique products to international markets.”
PM Modi announced that this year’s budget introduced the PM Dhan Dhanya Yojana, aimed at identifying 100 districts with the lowest crop production and launching targeted campaigns to boost farming in these areas.
Celebrating a major milestone, he revealed that the government had achieved its target of creating 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) across the country. The 10,000th FPO, focusing on maize, bananas, and paddy, has been registered in Bihar’s Khagaria district, marking a significant step in strengthening agricultural practices and supporting farmers.
The PM-KISAN scheme, launched on February 24, 2019, provides an annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 to eligible farmer families. So far, more than ₹3.46 lakh crore has been disbursed to over 11 crore farmer families in the country through 18 installments.
The Bihar Legislative Assembly elections for all 243 constituencies are scheduled to take place in October or November this year, with the last elections held in 2020.
(Inputs from ANI)