Sorrow of Bihar' Kosi bracing to become hub of makhana cultivation & prosperity

Agriculture scientists/experts are on the verge of breaking the stigma attached to the Kosi river that it causes only floods and devastations, officials said.

- Aditya Nath Jha

PURNIA:

Agriculture experts look upbeat with their plan that by managing floodwaters of Kosi, aquatic seeds (fox nut) known as super food makhana can be grown in a vast area to bring prosperity, breaking the age-long proverbial stigma about Kosi as 'Sorrow of Bihar'.

Makhana is currently cultivated in around 36,000 hectares across eight districts, including four in Seemanchal—Purnia, Katihar, Araria, and Kishanganj—three in the Kosi region—Saharsa, Madhepura, and Supaul—and in Khagaria. Dr. Anil Kumar, principal investigator of the Makhana Research Project at Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College, Purnia, stated that the cultivation area is expected to expand further by managing the floodwaters of the Kosi. He added that the positive impact of this expansion would soon be noticeable everywhere.

He added that by building small bunds in the path of flood water during Kosi floods, the area for growing makhana could easily be extended in the districts of Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Khagaria, Katihar, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani and Darbhanga.

"The area may be extended from 36,000 hectares to over 2.25 lakh hectares with estimated production being 8 times of current production," he claimed.