Chapter 2 Enterprise Blueprint • Single-Lot Unit Economics
How to Build a Shared Makhana Popping & 4-Sieve Grading Shed in India
Single-lot unit economics, 4-sieve lava grading margins, stop-loss rules, and PMFME 35% subsidy guide for foxnut (makhana) processing.
Estimated Starting Equipment / Capex
₹1.8 Lakh – ₹4.5 Lakh (Roaster/Popping unit, 4-sieve grader, electronic platform scale, moisture meter, heat sealer)
Single-Lot Validation Batch
100 kg raw black pond seed (guri) per single-lot trial
1. How the Margin Works (The Missing Step)
Raw ungraded makhana sells at a discount because buyers price the entire sack at the lowest kernel size. Passing popped lava through four calibrated sieves isolates 12mm+ premium grade ('rasgulla/lava'), lifting average realization per kg while charging growers a transparent per-kg processing fee.
2. The Hard Stop-Loss Rule
Stop if popped recovery falls below 38% of raw seed weight or if 12mm+ grade share falls below 45% across three consecutive 100-kg lots.
3. Eligible Government Subsidies, Loans & Technical Labs
PMFME (35% capital subsidy up to ₹10 lakh + ₹40,000 SHG seed capital), Bihar Makhana Development Scheme (Horticulture Directorate), Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF 3% interest subvention), NRC Makhana Darbhanga technical training.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the recovery rate of popped makhana from raw black seed?
Well-dried, graded raw guri yields 40% to 43% popped white makhana by weight. If moisture is not tempered properly during sun-drying and conditioning before roasting, recovery drops below 36% and breakage rises.
Can an SHG or FPO get a 35% subsidy for a makhana grading shed?
Yes. Under PMFME (MoFPI), individual micro-enterprises receive a 35% credit-linked capital subsidy up to ₹10 lakh, while FPOs and SHG federations can access up to 35% capital grant plus ₹40,000 per SHG member in working-capital seed support.
Get the Complete Step-by-Step Ledger, Vendor Specs & 97-Institution Directory
Every chapter in The Missing Step includes the complete single-lot cost table, buyer contract checklist, 30-day launch calendar, and matching funding schemes from The Missing Step Directory.
Explore All 11 Agribusiness Blueprints
- Ch 3: Same-Day Vegetable Collection Door
- Ch 4: Crate-Level Solar Cold Room
- Ch 5: Custom Hiring Seed Drill by the Acre
- Ch 6: Operate the Agri-Drone Someone Else Bought
- Ch 7: Sensors That Prevent One Total Loss
- Ch 8: Counted Fingerlings, Nearer Feed & Ice
- Ch 9: Seed Multiplication for a Contracted Buyer
- Ch 10: Digitize the Milk Chain That Already Pays
- Ch 11: Keep the Small Animal Alive, Then Sell It
- Ch 12: Sell a Changed Practice, and the File Someone Pays For