Assam Plans Major Makhana Expansion to Boost Rural Incomes

Guwahati: Assam wants to turn its water bodies into cash cows. Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika announced a plan to grow makhana, or fox nut, across 30,000 hectares throughout the state. The state government intends to plant the crop in 30 percent of the 186 fisheries currently run by the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation. It is a big bet on rural income.

Hazarika shared the details on Friday at a meeting held at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati. He sat down with lessees of natural water bodies, known as beels, alongside Fisheries Minister Nilima Devi and AFDC Chairman Gurujyoti Das. Officials from the Agriculture and Fisheries departments also attended the session.

The government already started experimental makhana farming in seven or eight beels. Now, they want to scale up. Hazarika told the group that clearing water hyacinth remains vital to making these sites work for both fish and crops. He specifically noted the financial upside of this shift. "A 25-bigha beel can generate Rs 25 lakh annually from makhana farming," the minister stated.

The plan relies on coordination between agriculture and fisheries experts. Beyond just crops, Hazarika reminded lessees to keep stocking fish fingerlings to safeguard traditional livelihoods. He labeled makhana a global superfood with rising demand in Western markets. The Water Resources Department will now help protect the state's natural water bodies. The government promised specialized training for any farmers ready to start growing the crop.