Taking Makhana (Fox Nuts) Global - Building an Export-Ready Ecosystem from Bihar to the World

On 29th July 2025, the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (India) participated in the Makhana 360° Roundtable held at the ICAR–Research Complex for Eastern Region (ICAR–RCER) in Patna. The event was organised by the Forum of Enterprises for Equitable Development (FEED) and the Rabo Foundation, with ICAR–RCER, an institute functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, serving as the venue host.

This multi-stakeholder convergence brought together farmers, FPOs, research institutions, policymakers and private sector players to co-develop a robust strategy for strengthening India’s makhana (fox nut) value chain, with Bihar as its epicentre.

Key Focus Areas:

– Climate-smart production and affordable mechanisation

– Financing innovation and agri-fintech access for marginal farmers

– Public–Private Partnership (PPP) models for value chain development

– Export promotion strategy and certification readiness

– Post-harvest management infrastructure

– Community-led branding and policy alignment

Representing the Council, Col. Nitin Sehgal, Vishisht Seva Medal (Veteran), Chief Executive Officer of NDFC(I), participated in the session on Makhana Export Promotion. He highlighted the need for a unified strategy that aligns farmer incentives, institutional support and global quality benchmarks, ensuring makhana’s emergence as a globally competitive and wellness-driven food category.

As India’s largest body for the dry fruits and nuts sector, NDFC(I) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policy dialogue, strengthening farmer-market linkages and enabling India’s leadership in sustainable, high-value agri exports.

The roundtable concluded with broad consensus across sectors to build a future-ready makhana ecosystem rooted in tradition, equity and scientific innovation.