2 weeks Ago By Priya Kothari
Pune: Demand for nutrient-rich fox nuts or makhanas has hit the roof following their global recognition as superfood. Despite a steady supply, price of makhanas, high in B vitamins, protein and fibre, has almost doubled year-on-year, said retailers. "We have been buying makhanas for health reasons for over a year now, but they have become unaffordable.
I recently purchased a 100-gram pouch of raw makhanas for Rs 180," said Sheetal Kumar, a resident of Baner. "There are many different types of fox nuts available in the market, and price depend on the size. The best quality ones are sold for as much as Rs 2,000- Rs 2,500 a kg.
We buy only small packs now because of the high cost," said Naveen Chawla, a resident of Wanowrie. A retailer at Dry Fruit Mall in Kothrud said that because of global popularity, a lot of the fox nuts are exported, and that's why prices in wholesale and retail markets are high now. Depending on the quality, prices of fox nuts range from Rs 1,400-Rs 1,730 at his store.
In the Union budget, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced setting up of a Makhana Board in Bihar, with a view to formalize the industry. Bihar contributes more than 90% of India's makhana cultivation. Fox nuts are believed to be a good source of protein and fibre, supporting weight loss, aiding digestion, and promoting heart health due to their antioxidant and mineral content.
Shambhu Prasad, founder and CEO of Madhubani Makhana, a family-run company involved in makhana farming and processing of raw and roasted makhana in Madhubani, Bihar, said that the company received a lot of export enquiries. "There is a lot of demand from the US, UK, and we are in the process of dispatching big global orders. Two years ago, we used to sell makhana globally at Rs 350 a kg, now the price is Rs 1,100 a kg.
We are in the process of ramping up our production capabilities at present," he said. The company processes 2.5 tonnes of makhana a day, which they plan to increase to 5 tonnes soon.
Hiten Parekh, who runs Bhavnagari Dry Fruit Store at Camp, said that they have stock of only the ‘golden' makhana or the big size one. "Demand is for smaller quantities because of the high cost," he said. Sarvesh Agrawal, who runs Agrawal Dry Fruits at Marketyard, said, "The price was in the range of Rs 600-700 per kg last year in the wholesale market, and now the price is trending at Rs 1,400 per kg.
Demand has gone up, and most of the supply we get is from Bihar and West Bengal," he said..
