Bihar bets on flavoured makhana to win a bigger bite of global snack market

Bihar’s makhana is no longer just being exported as a raw agricultural commodity. In a sign of India’s push to move up the food value chain, the state has dispatched its first-ever sea shipment of value-added flavoured makhana to Canada, betting on rising global demand for healthier packaged snacks.The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) on Thursday said it facilitated the shipment of a 7-metric-tonne consignment from Darbhanga to Canada. The cargo, packed in two containers, was processed and packaged by Nutrivin Agro Pvt. Ltd. before being shipped through Mundra Port to Canadian buyer ZKV Foods.

The export marks a shift from selling bulk farm produce to marketing retail-ready food products, allowing exporters and farmers to capture a larger share of the final consumer price. APEDA said farmers associated with the consignment realised more than 50% higher returns through value addition and better access to international markets.

The move comes as global consumers increasingly gravitate towards healthier snack options, creating opportunities for products such as makhana, or fox nuts, which are marketed as being rich in protein and low in fat. Flavoured variants have also gained popularity in India’s organised retail market in recent years, with several food brands positioning them as an alternative to conventional fried snacks.Bihar is India’s largest producer of makhana and has been trying to establish the crop as a premium export product rather than simply a domestic staple. Officials believe processing, branding and packaging can help expand the state’s agricultural exports while improving farmer incomes.

The consignment also highlights a broader strategy being pursued by APEDA and the Commerce Ministry to increase exports of value-added agricultural products instead of raw commodities. The agency said it has been working with state governments, farmer producer organisations, processors and exporters to strengthen quality standards, develop export infrastructure and improve market access.

If successful, the shipment could serve as a template for other niche Indian agricultural products, demonstrating how processing and branding can help farmers and exporters capture greater value in overseas markets rather than competing primarily on commodity prices.