Our Impact: Empowering Communities, Sustaining Wetlands,
and Growing Prosperity
At Mithila Makhana Institute, we are committed to making a lasting impact by increasing agricultural productivity, empowering communities, creating jobs, and preserving the environment. We aim to grow Makhana production to 500 metric tons annually within five years by introducing modern farming techniques and promoting field-based cultivation systems alongside pond-based methods. To reduce farmers' reliance on a single crop, we are diversifying into other aqua-based products such as water chestnuts and lotus, giving them more income opportunities and resilienceagainst market fluctuations.
Our support extends to marginalized and indigenous groups, ensuring that those often left behind, including women, benefit from access to resources like solar-powered irrigation, high-quality seeds, micro-credit, and technical assistance.
We are working toward establishing our own processing center to add value to raw Makhana, createmore local jobs, and offer a buy-back guarantee to farmers, providing them with financial security even though market demand is already strong. By strengthening the value chain and building direct connections with domestic and international buyers, we help farmers bypass intermediaries, access higher-value markets, and secure better returns. Additionally, our efforts to promote Nepali Makhana as a premium product are expanding its market reach and recognition.
Our work goes beyond economic benefits; we actively promote sustainable farming practices that protect wetland ecosystems while maximizing their potential. By encouraging the productive use of water logged areas, we support biodiversity conservation and contribute to the ecological health of the region. Aqua-based agriculture also offers climate resilience, as crops like Makhana are better suited to withstand floods and droughts, ensuring reliable income sources for farmers. Together, these efforts foster sustainable economic growth, create green jobs, and lay the foundation for amore prosperous and environmentally secure future for Madhesh Province.
Get Involved: Help Us Make a Difference! Join us in helping to empower farmers and increase agricultural productivity, promote sustainable farming practices that protect wetlands and develop and market new aqua-based products.