Union Minister of Agriculture informed Lok Sabha about National Research Centre for Makhana.
Key takeaways
ICAR-National Research Centre (NRC) for Makhana, Darbhanga (Bihar) was sanctioned by the Department of Agricultural Research & Education, Govt. of India, as a new scheme during the 9th Five Year Plan period (1997–2002) for Conservation, Research & Development of the Makhana crop.
However, during the 10th plan period (2002-2007), the NRC for Makhana was merged and brought under the administrative control of ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region (RCER), Patna, without changing the mandate.
Darbhanga in particular and Mithila, in general, is the major Makhana producing region in the country.
Important value additions
In India, makhana cultivation takes place mainly in West Bengal, Bihar, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and UP.
But, Bihar alone is the largest producer of Makhana with 90 percent of overall production across the world.
It belongs to the Nymphaeaceae family.
It is a perennial plant.
It grows in stagnant water like ponds, swamps, and wetlands in the tropical climatic areas very much similar to the lotus.
