Khetika Invests Rs 20 Crore In Patna Processing Facility To Boost Mithila Makhana Production And Targets Rs 500 Crore Revenue
A major boost has arrived for agricultural processing and traditional superfood cultivation in eastern India. Agri business firm Khetika has set up a massive modern processing facility spread across 35,000 square feet in Patna, backed by a capital investment of Rs 20 crore. The move represents a major step forward in taking traditional regional farm produce directly from rural water ponds to nationwide urban dining tables through modern, scientific packaging and processing.
The central focus of this new processing infrastructure is Mithila Makhana, also widely known as fox nuts or lotus seeds. Makhana has been cultivated for generations in wetlands and shallow ponds across northern Bihar, where traditional farmers wade through deep water to collect the thorny seeds from the mud beds. While this crop has long enjoyed deep cultural importance, it has now gained worldwide recognition as a nutritious superfood packed with protein, fiber, and vital minerals, drawing strong demand from health conscious buyers across modern supermarket shelves.
Under its supply model, the company procures raw crop directly from grassroot cultivators across core producing districts including Purnia, Katihar, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, and Madhubani. In the past, small pond owners had to rely entirely on village middlemen and local traders who bought raw harvests at low rates and made the biggest profits in distant wholesale markets. By establishing a direct buying line with farm families, the enterprise aims to give growers better cash returns and ensure they get paid fairly for their hard physical labor.
Locating the massive new unit in Patna brings factory operations close to the primary rural harvesting belt. Processing the delicate seeds near the harvest grounds cuts long travel hours on bumpy village roads, which reduces physical damage, dampness, and post harvest crop spoilage. Running modern cleaning, grading, roasting, and packaging lines under one roof also allows the company to monitor every step of production closely, guaranteeing that customers receive clean, high quality fox nuts with full tracking from farm to packet.
Beyond processing, the company plans to deepen its grassroots community work by setting up a dedicated SAATHI Centre inside the farming belt. This center is designed to serve as a practical learning and support hub for rural farmers. Local cultivators can visit the hub to learn better pond preparation methods, water management tips, and modern drying techniques. The initiative aims to help village families increase crop yields per acre, improve product grade, and reduce manual strain during the demanding harvest period.
On the commercial front, the firm has set an ambitious business target of reaching Rs 500 crore in overall revenue within the next three years. Company executives point out that consumer demand for healthy, roasted snacks is expanding rapidly across metropolitan areas, corporate offices, and international export channels. With modern processing machinery now fully operational in Patna, the enterprise plans to supply organized retail chains, online delivery platforms, and overseas specialty food stores with premium graded packs.
Industry analysts note that this development reflects a positive wave of farm based industrialization across eastern India. For decades, raw crops from the region were shipped off to distant states for value addition and packaging, leaving local growers with minimal earnings. Setting up large, high standard food factories inside the state creates meaningful local jobs for youth, supports rural livelihoods, and builds valuable local processing power right next to farm fields.
The launch of the Patna processing plant and the upcoming farmer assistance centers show how private capital and grassroots farm supply can work together successfully. As urban consumers continue seeking natural, nutrient dense foods, direct farm to factory networks like this promise to strengthen rural economies while carrying traditional regional agricultural treasures to dynamic global markets.