Constraints faced by makhana growers of Madhubani district and suggestions to eliminate them

Abstract

Makhana is grown in stagnant perennial water bodies like ponds, land depressions, jheel, swamps, ditches or wetlands having stagnant shallow water (4-6 ft) which are of perennial in nature. In India, its production is spread over in the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Eastern Odisha and Uttar Pradesh for its starchy white edible seeds. The state of Bihar has the monopoly in Makhana production in the country. The districts of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul, Kishanganj, Araria and Sitamari are major pockets for Makhana cultivation. The present study was concentrated in four blocks namely Pandaul, Rahika, Kaluahi and Benipatti of the Madhubani district which have the highest area and production. Altogether a total sample size of 100 was taken for study. The all constraints were tabulated on the basis of frequency and percentage scores and further ranking of different constraints was made with the help of its percentage scores. The major constraints which were identified further divided into four groups as (a) Production Constraints, (b) Economic Constraints, (c) Technological Constraints and (d) Policy related Constraints. In order to eliminate the constraints as confronted by them and motivate them to adopt makhana production enterprise as their main occupation for doubling their farm income many suggestions were recorded through systematic observation based on field situation and reality.