A young farmer in Nepal’s southern border district of Jhapa has launched what is believed to be the country’s first large-scale commercial cultivation of makhana, a nutrient-rich aquatic crop widely grown in neighboring India.

The farming project, located in Kachankawal Rural Municipality-4, has attracted significant local attention as residents observe an unconventional crop replacing the area’s traditional rice fields.

Thirty-nine-year-old farmer Chandra Rajbanshi of Kechana has started cultivating makhana across 20 bighas of land after learning the farming techniques in the Indian state of Bihar, where the crop has become a profitable agricultural enterprise. The fields, previously used for rice and maize cultivation, have been converted into waterlogged ponds suitable for growing makhana.

Rajbanshi said he leased the land for 10 years by making an advance payment equivalent to 30 maunds of rice per bigha annually. Inspired by the success of makhana farming in Indian border regions, he decided to explore its commercial potential in Nepal.

“After seeing farmers in Bihar earn good incomes from makhana cultivation, I felt Nepal could also benefit from this crop,” Rajbanshi said. “Although it involves considerable risk and investment, I wanted to test its feasibility on a large scale.”

Makhana, also known as fox nut or gorgon nut, is an aquatic plant belonging to the lotus family. The plant grows in shallow water and is characterized by large thorn-covered leaves. Flowers emerge from the center of the leaves before developing into seed pods.

According to Rajbanshi, the plants begin flowering in late May and the seeds start maturing by late August. However, preparing the fields requires months of work.

“Field preparation begins in December,” he explained. “The land must be carefully leveled, strong embankments built, and water continuously maintained throughout the growing period.”

The crop takes around eight months to produce a harvest, making it both a capital-intensive and patience-demanding venture. Rajbanshi estimates he has already invested around Rs 1.4 million, including the cost of seeds, technology, and technical knowledge imported from India.

If market access and export opportunities can be secured, he believes farmers could earn profits of up to Rs 300,000 per bigha. However, he noted that Nepal currently lacks clear policies and market mechanisms for commercial makhana cultivation because the crop has not previously been grown at a significant scale in the country.

“There is a need for government support in marketing and export facilitation once production begins,” he said.

The project has also generated curiosity among local farmers and residents. Many visit the fields daily to observe the unusual crop growing in water-filled rice paddies.

Local resident Khusi Rajbanshi said the farm has become a point of interest in the community. “People are fascinated to see a completely different type of cultivation in what used to be ordinary paddy fields,” he said.

Makhana is valued both as a food and a religious offering. In Hindu traditions, it is commonly used as prasad during religious ceremonies. Nepal currently imports most of its makhana from India.

Nutrition experts regard makhana as a highly nutritious food rich in protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin C. Often described as a “superfood,” it is also popular among health-conscious consumers because it can be cultivated without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

Rajbanshi has financed the project independently, including installing a borewell irrigation system without government assistance. Encouraged by the initial response, he plans to expand cultivation in the coming years if the crop receives adequate market support and demand.

The pioneering project could open a new chapter in Nepal’s agricultural sector, offering farmers an alternative high-value crop while reducing the country’s dependence on imported makhana.