Makhana Triumphs over Flood: A Success Story from Darbhanga, Bihar

Abstract

Makhana farming, though highly profitable, is a cost intensive proposition. Farmers may have to suffer huge monetary losses if a mature crop of makhana is washed away by the running flood water, a situation not so uncommon in flood prone areas of Mithilanchal region in north Bihar. Here I present the success story of a makhana farmer who beat the flood to save his crop and ensured a net income of Rs. 1,10,000.00/ha from makhana farming in a flood hit region of Darbhanga, where the entire area (Chaur) surrounding the farmer’s field remained submerged and unproductive. As the farmer confirms, this is the highest he got from makhana cultivation in any of the flood hit years over the past decade and a half. Net fencing around the field coupled with scientific methods of makhana farming did the trick. This story shows the way to successful makhana farming despite the challenges posed by recurrent floods in Mithilanchal region of Bihar.