Bihar Makhana export expansion

In late July 2026, Bihar’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) flagged off the first sea shipment of value‑added flavoured Makhana from Darbhanga to Canada, sending seven metric tonnes in two containers via Mundra Port. The export was presented as a milestone for the state’s agri‑export ecosystem, expected to raise farmer incomes and diversify Bihar’s export basket.

In early August 2026, an 18-metric-tonne consignment of GI‑tagged Mithila Makhana was shipped by sea to Australia. Facilitated by APEDA and flagged off from the Integrated Unit of Irradiation Cum Packhouse in Bihta, Patna, the seven-container shipment was described by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal as a major milestone in the global market. The initiative reportedly enabled farmers to realize approximately 18% higher returns than prevailing market prices.

Bihar produces approximately 85% of India’s makhana. During the 2025-26 fiscal year, India exported over 7,000 metric tonnes of makhana and value-added products to more than 20 international destinations, including the United States, the Middle East, and Africa. The sector has been further supported by the implementation of a specific HS Code for makhana in July 2025.