Lucknow, Dec. 9 -- Uttar Pradesh on Monday rolled out its first-ever Makhana Development Scheme, after the Union government approved the state's 2025-26 action plan and released Rs 158 lakh to kick-start the project. This announcement was made by minister of state for horticulture, agricultural marketing, agri foreign trade and agri export Dinesh Pratap Singh here on Monday. He said "The initiative will help the state tap into the growing national and global demand for the superfood." The scheme follows the Centre's 2025 decision to set up a National Makhana Board and implement the programme in 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh. The UP horticulture department will execute the project. "With the funds released, the state will begin selecting and developing ponds for makhana cultivation, train farmers, conduct frontline demonstrations, organise buyer-seller meets, promote the crop through makhana pavilions, support exporters' participation in international exhibitions, and hold district- and state-level seminars. A Centre of Excellence for Makhana is also planned," the minister said. UP's climate, he pointed out, was highly suitable for makhana, and districts in Purvanchal-Kushinagar, Siddharthnagar, Ghazipur, Ballia, Maharajganj, Varanasi and Basti-have been identified as the best zones for cultivation. Areas where water chestnut (singhada) grows successfully are also considered ideal. "The state aims to expand the makhana cultivation area in the next fiscal year, boost production of quality planting material, and enhance processing and value addition," Singh said....