India Makhana Market 2026: Production, Bihar & Exports
India’s makhana sector is moving from a traditional regional crop into a larger organised food category. Demand now spans graded raw makhana, ready-to-eat roasted snacks, modern retail, food processing and exports. The strongest production base remains Bihar, but the market is increasingly national and international.
This 2026 overview uses recent Government of India figures to explain production, Bihar’s role, exports, the National Makhana Board and the opportunities shaping the sector.
India makhana production in 2025–26
According to the Government of India’s Second Advance Estimates for 2025–26, total makhana production in India is estimated at 80,590 metric tonnes, with average productivity of 2.34 MT per hectare. The final estimate for 2024–25 was 63,910 MT.
Bihar remains the country’s leading producer. Government figures put Bihar’s 2025–26 production at 60,000 MT, with average productivity of 2.00 MT per hectare. Recent official background material says Bihar contributes nearly three-fourths of India’s production and around 80–85% of global supply.
Why Bihar dominates the makhana market
Makhana comes from Euryale ferox, an aquatic crop historically cultivated in ponds and wetlands. North Bihar has a deep ecosystem of farmers, harvesters, processors, traders and skilled workers who understand the crop’s unusual processing requirements.
Major producing districts identified by the Government of India include Katihar, Purnia, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Supaul, Araria, Madhepura and Sitamarhi. The Kosi basin, Mithila and Seemanchal are particularly important production regions.
Read our Madhubani Makhana heritage guide for the regional story.
India’s makhana exports in 2025–26
Government data published in August 2026 reports exports of 7,264.89 MT of makhana products in 2025–26, with an export value of ₹19,296.08 lakh. Export growth is increasingly linked with value addition rather than only bulk commodity movement.
In July 2026, APEDA facilitated a seven-metric-tonne sea shipment of value-added flavoured makhana from Darbhanga, Bihar to Canada. In August 2026, an 18-MT commercial sea shipment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana was sent from Bihar to Australia. These shipments illustrate the growing role of grading, packaging, food safety and branded value-added formats.
The National Makhana Board
The National Makhana Board was constituted in Bihar on 14 September 2025 to promote production, processing, value addition, marketing and exports. A Central Sector Scheme for Development of Makhana was also approved with an outlay of ₹476.03 crore.
The scheme is intended to support areas such as production improvement, processing, branding, marketing and sector development. For a crop that traditionally involved labour-intensive processing, investment in equipment, grading and quality systems can influence both farm-level returns and final product consistency.
Mithila Makhana and the GI opportunity
“Mithila Makhana” is a registered Geographical Indication for Bihar. The GI recognition strengthens the link between makhana and its regional origin, traditional knowledge and reputation. As Indian food brands expand internationally, origin-based differentiation may become increasingly important.
Where the market is moving
1. Branded ready-to-eat snacks
Flavoured roasted makhana has brought the category into modern snacking. Consumers can now choose between classic salt-and-pepper products and more contemporary flavours.
2. Better raw grading
Retail buyers increasingly encounter size grades such as 4+ and 5+ Sutta. Clear grading helps consumers understand why two raw makhana packs may differ in appearance and price. See our Makhana Grades guide.
3. Processing and mechanisation
Traditional popping requires skill and repeated heating stages. Mechanised cleaning, grading, roasting and popping systems can improve throughput and consistency while reducing physical strain.
4. Direct-to-consumer ecommerce
Online buying allows brands to explain sourcing, grade, net weight and product use in much more detail than a small offline shelf label. For shoppers, this makes transparent product information increasingly important.
5. Export-oriented value addition
The recent Canada and Australia shipments show that international opportunity is not limited to unbranded raw material. Flavoured and GI-linked makhana can also be positioned as finished consumer food products.
What buyers should watch
Whether buying for home or business, compare origin, grade, uniformity, broken pieces, freshness, ingredient list, packaging and intended use. Raw makhana for home roasting should not be compared directly with a flavoured ready-to-eat product only on price per pack.
Consumers can explore raw makhana, roasted makhana and combo packs on Makhana.com.
Frequently asked questions
Which state produces the most makhana in India?
Bihar is India’s leading makhana-producing state. Government estimates put Bihar’s 2025–26 production at 60,000 MT.
How much makhana does India produce?
The Second Advance Estimates for 2025–26 put India’s total makhana production at 80,590 MT.
What is the National Makhana Board?
It is a board constituted in Bihar in September 2025 to promote makhana production, processing, value addition, marketing and exports.
Does India export makhana?
Yes. Government data reports 7,264.89 MT of makhana products exported in 2025–26, and recent shipments include value-added makhana sent to Canada and GI-tagged Mithila Makhana sent to Australia.
What is Mithila Makhana?
Mithila Makhana is a registered geographical indication associated with makhana from Bihar’s Mithila region.
Sources
Production, export and policy figures in this article are based on August 2026 releases from the Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and APEDA-related Government of India updates.
