Patna, Feb. 1 -- Bihar minister Mangal Pandey on Saturday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the Centre's proposal for setting up a Makhana Board in the state.

He said it was a long-term demand of the farmers of Bihar.

"I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan on behalf of lakhs of farmers of Bihar who cultivate foxnuts... These farmers have been demanding the formation of a Makhana Board for a very long time, just like there is Tea Board and Rubber Board..." Pandey told reporters.

Pandey also expressed gratitude to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

He said, "W...