Welcome to the ICAR – National Research Centre for Makhana
ICAR-National Research Centre for Makhana (NRC-M) was established in Darbhanga on 28th February 2002, considering the historical, cultural and economic significance of makhana in the Mithila Region of Bihar. To date, it is regarded as the only Research Centre in the world exclusively dedicated to makhana research. Its mandate was, however, expanded in 2023 to include research on lotus, water chestnut, fish and other aquatic crops with potentially high nutritive, medicinal, industrial and economic significance. During over two decades of its existence, NRC-M, Darbhanga, through its research and extension activities, has made an immense contribution in improving production, productivity of makhana, resulting in higher farm income, and area expansion, leading to establishing makhana as a superfood in the global arena. With a strong multidisciplinary team of scientists, newly acquired state-of-the-art scientific equipment, and research facilities/infrastructure, the NRC-M, Darbhanga, envisions further accelerating its research and extension activities for nationwide expansion of makhana cultivation.
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Dr. Nachiket Kotwaliwale
Director, ICAR–National Research Centre for Makhana
Welcome to the website of the ICAR–National Research Centre for Makhana, Darbhanga.
Makhana is one of India’s most important aquatic crops, valued for its nutritional richness, medicinal properties and growing demand as a healthy food across national and international markets. It holds immense cultural and economic significance in the Mithila region of Bihar and contributes substantially to the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, processors, traders and entrepreneurs. India is the global leader in makhana production, with Bihar accounting for the majority of the country’s production. The recognition of Mithila Makhana through the Geographical Indication status has further strengthened its identity, market potential and global visibility.
Despite significant progress in cultivation and production, the makhana sector continues to face several challenges, including labour-intensive cultivation and harvesting practices, limited mechanisation, changing climatic conditions, crop-protection issues, post-harvest losses, quality standardisation, processing constraints and limited value-addition and export opportunities.
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