IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani made a significant push to promote the cultivation, processing and marketing of Makhana through the cooperative movement by travelling to Purnea in Bihar, a region known as the country’s largest producer of the nutritious aquatic crop, often described as a “super food” and health booster.
Sanghani visited Purnea on the invitation of Atulayam Multi State Cooperative Society, where he inaugurated a Makhana processing unit established by the cooperative. The event marked a major step towards strengthening value addition and cooperative-led marketing of Makhana, which has emerged as a high-value agricultural commodity with growing domestic and international demand.
Speaking to Indian Cooperative while returning from Purnea, Sanghani said that as a member of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) Committee, he has consistently and strongly advocated the cause of Makhana farmers. “When Makhana growers came to know about my efforts in raising their issues, they invited me to inaugurate the first Makhana cooperative formed in the region,” he said.
Sanghani received a warm welcome on his arrival at Purnea Airport. Among those present were IFFCO Director Prem Chandra Munshi, BISCOMAUN Chairman Vishal Singh, Bihar State Cooperative Bank Chairman Ramesh Chandra Chaubey, IFFCO Chief General Manager (Marketing) N. M. Gazera, IFFCO State Marketing Manager Dr. Anand Kumar Srivastava, field officers from Purnea and Katihar, besides a large number of cooperative leaders and officials who greeted him with bouquets, garlands and traditional ceremonial honours.
During the programme, local cooperative leaders urged Sanghani to support the shifting of the Makhana Board to Purnea. They argued that nearly 80 per cent of the country’s Makhana production comes from the Purnea and Katihar region, making it the natural hub for the crop’s development, research, processing and marketing.
