India, Nov. 7 -- Inside a make-shift tin shed in Harda village of Bihar's Purnia district, Rohit Sahani's entire family is busy processing makhana (fox nuts). From a traditional backward boatmen community, Sahani buys makhana seeds from farmers across Purnia and Katihar districts, and processes it before selling to wholesale dealers.

"The business has grown as many farmers are now growing makhana and the prices have also increased by about three-times in the past six years," he says, as mother, Kisni Devi, 42, is segregating the black coloured pea-sized seeds. Of his two younger brothers, one is heating the segregated seeds on a wood-fired stove, and the other is beating the heated seeds on a wooden plate, called thampi, with a wooden ha...