PURNEA, Dec. 15 -- Though the first board meeting of the National Makhana Board, chaired by Devesh Chaturvedi, secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was held at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi on Saturday, the uncertainty over its location still persists in Bihar. The board meeting approved a multi-year development programme with an outlay of Rs.476.03 crore for the six-year period (2025-26 to 2030-31) focusing on research and innovation, quality seed production, farmer capacity building, improved harvesting and post-harvest practices, value addition, branding and marketing, export promotion and quality control. Meanwhile, the demand for the setting up of the Makhana Board in Purnea has gained momentum with the farming community, especially makhana growers, mounting pressure on the government to establish the board headquarters in Purnea that produces over 70 per cent of makhana produced in Bihar. Mithila Makhana which got the GI (Geographical Indication) tag in 2022 (GI No-696) was due to the research and experiments of the agriculture experts and scientists of Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) Sabour particularly at Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College (BPAC) under the directive of vice chancellor (V-C) Prof DR Singh. The V-C has been taking keen interest in promoting the makhana research in the region and its cultivation has gone up to over 40,000 hectares. In a letter to agriculture minister Ram Krpial Yadav, social activist Vijay Kumar Shreevasatava, has demanded to establish the board at BPAC in Purnea. "GI tag to Makhana was awarded to Mithilanchal Makhana Utpadak Sangh, Saheban Hata, Janta Chowk in Purnea," Shreevasatava claimed and expressed shock that top authorities link Mithila Makhana to Darbhanga. Citing data, Shreevasatava said that out of 90 per cent of makhana grown in Bihar, 70 per cent is produced in Purnea-Koshi regions. BPAC was the only college to receive "centre of excellence" during the fourth agriculture roadmap (2023-28). Besides Saboutr Makhana- (National Identity-620551), the high yielding variety was invented by the scientists of BAU in Purnea in 2016 and notified in 2019 which led to revolutionise its cultivation. BPAC has developed over 25 acres land area on the campus for the research of makhana and it has trained a large number of farmers willing to grow makhana. Within radius of 100 kms eight districts including Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa and Khagaria, 70 per cent makhana is produced and a large number of labourers from Madhubani and Darbhanga shift in these districts during harvesting and processing season. The Centre has established the National Makhana Board fulfilling the announcement made in the Union Budget 2025-26 and it was officially launched by PM Modi in Bihar on September 15, making a major step towards strengthening and modernising the makhana sector....