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Madhubani Makhana Ki Kheti: In Madhubani, farmers cultivate Makhana in ponds in a traditional manner. Farmers extract seeds from ‘Gaza’, but they get only Rs 200-250 per kg, due to which they are forced to migrate.
Madhubani: Makhana is a famous dish in itself, which can be eaten after frying. Also it can be offered as Prasad. Apart from this, it can also be used in sweets. Have you ever wondered how the much loved Makhana is cultivated? How much money can farmers earn from its cultivation? What is Makhana seed called in local language and what is its price? Today we are going to tell you this in this video.
Makhana is cultivated in the pond
In Madhubani, farmers have hundreds of ponds for Makhana cultivation. Here farmers cultivate Makhana traditionally. Farmers do not need machines for its cultivation. Everything is done by hands. Out of these hundreds of ponds, one pond is also on Chakdah Badi Pokhar. The farmers cultivating Makhana here talked to the team of Local 18. All these farmers were taking out makhana from the pond and selling its gota (small makhana).
Makhana is found in 5 feet deep water
The farmers here told Local 18 that their job is to extract the gora (seeds) and sell them. After this, the further work of breaking the Makhana and popping it is done by the big entrepreneurial business class. He can only tell about extracting seeds from water. This work is very difficult. To remove it, it takes from morning to evening. Generally Makhana is cultivated in 4-5 feet deep water. Therefore, there is a fear of snakes in its cultivation.
Know how to extract makhana seeds
Farmers said that a net is required to catch fish. Similarly, to extract the seeds of Makhana, a vessel woven from bamboo is also required, which we farmers call ‘Gaza’. Its function is to keep the Makhana seeds on the leaves safe in that vessel. After this, after hours of hard work, these farmers crush it in the nearby fields with the help of their feet and hands. So that other aquatic organisms present in it go away and fresh makhana can be obtained.
Know the market price of Makhana seeds
However, during the cultivation of Makhana, farmers use pesticides to avoid these things. You will be surprised to know that the primary farmers of Makhana, which is sold for Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 per kg in the market, have to be satisfied with only Rs 200 to Rs 250 per kg. This is the price they get for it.
At the same time, farmers also say that due to low prices and economic inequality, they have to migrate. After Durga Puja, when its seeds i.e. Goriya have to be taken out, then those people return to the village. Then when this work is completed in the next few months, then they leave by train for labor in other states.
