Prayagraj: The state govt has launched an intensive campaign for the production of dry fruits, specifically ‘makhana’ (fox nut) in Prayagraj district. While the crop was previously grown as a pilot project in only a few districts, it is now being expanded to other districts, including Sangam city.As it has become difficult for the farmers to continue with traditional crops due to rising cultivation costs and unpredictable rainfall patterns, the govt has stepped up to encourage farmers to adopt commercial crops that offer higher profits at lower costs.District horticulture officer (Prayagraj), Mewaram, said that farmers are being prepared for makhana cultivation as part of horticultural innovation. This year, farmers in the district are cultivating makhana across 52 hectares, with 100 farmers included in the first phase. He notes that makhana is set to replace water chestnut (singhara) as a key crop in Prayagraj.Currently, makhana is cultivated across 625 hectares in Uttar Pradesh, primarily in districts including Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar, Siddharthnagar, Balrampur, and Bahraich. And now Prayagraj has joined the list.While makhana cultivation has historically been limited in scale in the state, its scope has expanded rapidly in recent years due to incentives provided in the Terai and Purvanchal regions. Districts prone to waterlogging are considered ideal for makhana production.In Prayagraj, two types of land plots have been identified as suitable for this crop. There are over 600 ponds in the district where either water chestnuts (singhara) are grown or fish farming is practised. Additionally, farmers possess land that remains waterlogged due to its proximity to canals.Mewaram said that makhana (fox nut) cultivation is being initiated on both these types of land. The ‘Swarna Vaidehi’ variety of makhana, developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has been found suitable for the climate of Prayagraj district, and it is disease-resistant and yields approximately 1.5 times more produce than traditional seeds.The horticulture department and food processing are implementing a special scheme to boost makhana production in Uttar Pradesh. The officials are encouraging farmers in two ways to promote the ‘Swarna Vaidehi’ variety.Mewaram said that the govt is providing subsidies to farmers and specialised training for makhana cultivation.Cultivating makhana on one hectare of land entails a cost of approximately Rs 1.80 lakh. The horticulture department will provide a subsidy of Rs 71,600 per hectare. This subsidy is intended for farmers who own their own ponds. However, farmers wishing to cultivate makhana in waterlogged fields near canals will receive a subsidy of Rs 54,000 per hectare. The process of selecting farmers for this cultivation is currently underway; in the first phase, a group of 50 farmers will be sent to Bhagalpur, Bihar, to learn makhana cultivation techniques.
