Maize, makhana replace paddy and jute as cash crops in Bihar’s Seemanchal

PURNIA: Md Taimur Alam (67) of Chhatiya village in Purnia was a paddy and jute growing farmer till 2005. “These two crops were not bringing as much return as I had expected. So I decided to switch over to other crops that could give more in return,” he said.

“In 2006, I started experimental cultivation of makhana (fox nut) in a waterlogged area behind my house. The return was much more than what I had expected. Since then, I reduced the area of cultivation of paddy and jute and started cultivating makhana,” he said.

Today, Alam grows makhana over 40 acres of land.

Similarly, brothers Prakash Kumar Jha, Prabhat Kumar Jha, Pradeep Kumar Jha and Dilip Kumar Jha of Mirchaibari in Katihar jointly practise makhana farming over 25 acres of land. “Earlier, we used to give out our land on lease, but now we have started makhana cultivation ourselves due to the availability of better power supply,” they said.

“Maize growing area has increased during the last two decades by replacing jute and paddy,” maize farmer Md Ibrahim

of Shrinagar in Purnia said. However, he demanded a better price and smooth trading of maize.

Meanwhile, there is some resentment among maize farmers over the price. “The government fixed MSP on maize at ₹1,870 per quintal, but we are compelled to sell our crops at ₹1,300 to ₹1,400 per quintal,” maize grower of Japharpur village of Purnia Sunil Kumar Jha said. He demanded that the procurement of maize should start at the panchayat level through PACS (primary agriculture credit societies), like paddy and wheat.

In Seemanchal, maize and makhana have replaced paddy and jute as cash crops.

Hari Mohan Mishra, deputy director of agriculture technology management agency (ATMA) at Purnia, said, “Makhana cultivation has sharply increased during the last few years and is still increasing. Farmers have started growing makhana on low-lying land, which used to be for paddy cultivation.” State’s industries minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said, “We are serious about setting up food processing units in Seemanchal. The region has emerged as a hub of maize and makhana and processing units will not only benefit farmers but also boost local employment.”