Assessing Regional Disparities in Makhana Farming: A Study from Bihar

Makhana ( Euryale ferox) cultivation in Bihar responsible for 85% of India’s production, exhibits pronounced regional disparities driven by agro-ecological, socio-economic, and institutional factors. This study compares traditional (Darbhanga/Madhubani) and emerging (Purnea/Katihar) Makhana-growing zones to elucidate differences in farming practices, resource endowments, and socio-behavioral attributes. In a comparative cross-sectional design, 120 Makhana farmers (60 per region) were surveyed using a structured interview schedule covering landholding size, income level, training, age, education level, perception, knowledge and attitude level of farmers. Mann–Whitney U tests (α = 0.05) examined univariate regional differences; Multiple Correspondence Analysis and permutation testing (B = 999) assessed multidimensional separation and statistical significance of regional groupings. Univariate analysis revealed significant regional differences in landholding size larger in traditional zones, perception scores higher in emerging zones, and income level, while knowledge, training, attitude, farm location, age, and education did not differ significantly. MCA showed robust grouping: the first two dimensions captured 49.38% of total variance. Though specific socio-economic and attitudinal factors appear similar, multidimensional profiling uncovers clear structural differences between traditional and emerging Makhana regions. These findings underscore the need for region-tailored extension strategies, input support, and market interventions to foster equitable growth and resilience in Bihar’s Makhana sector.