Makhana also known as fox nuts or lotus seeds or water lily seeds, is primarily grown in the waters of wetlands, ponds, lakes in the regions of Bihar, West bengal and parts of Madhya pradesh in India. These areas provide the ideal conditions for lotus plants, and makhana is harvested from the seed pods of these plants.

Farmers often follow traditional farming practices, including natural fertilization and entire process is labor-intensive, with the cultivation and harvesting being done manually to maintain the delicate nature of the Euryale ferox plant and seeds.