Patna: Patna is gearing up to celebrate one of its most famous products — makhana — with the upcoming Makhana Mahotsav 2025. The two-day event will be held on October 4 and 5 at Gyan Bhawan and is being organised by the Directorate of Horticulture, Bihar. This festival will bring together farmers, processing unit owners, start-ups, researchers, industry experts and policymakers under one roof. The aim is to share knowledge, showcase innovation and open new markets for Bihar’s most famous superfood.
Director of Horticulture, Abhishek Kumar, said makhana has been a part of Bihar’s culture for generations and has now gained recognition around the world as a healthy and nutritious food. He added that the festival is becoming more important every year because of the growing demand for makhana. This year’s Mahotsav will have special sessions on mechanisation of makhana farming, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, export support from APEDA, and training on processing and value addition. These activities are expected to create more opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs.
Over the past ten years, Bihar’s makhana sector has seen rapid growth. The area under makhana cultivation has increased by 171% and production by 152%. Government schemes such as the Bihar Agricultural Investment Promotion Policy, the Prime Minister’s Micro Food Industries Upgradation Scheme (PMFME), and the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Package (BIIPP) have given a strong push to the makhana industry. These steps have encouraged youth and women from Bihar to start small businesses and create jobs, which has also strengthened Bihar’s presence in international markets.
The formation of the Makhana Board has added fresh energy to this sector and created new opportunities for growth. According to the Directorate of Horticulture, the festival will not just be a cultural event but also an educational one. Farmers and entrepreneurs will get to learn about new technology, global markets, and better marketing strategies. People from all over Bihar are being encouraged to attend the event and celebrate the pride of their state while supporting local producers.
