November-December 2016

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central India, jasmine cultivation in south India and saffron cultivation in Kashmir are well ... paniculata, Cassia angusfifolia, Abe/moschus moschatus, Withania ...
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November-December

2016

Doubling Farmers' Income through Horticulture

Jitendra

Kumar, BB Basak, RS Jat and Nagaraja Reddy

Medicinal and aromatic plants making healthy and wealthy The medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) provide vast opportunity to strengthen health, food, nutrition, and livelihood security to farm families and ecological services to the environment. Their potential is especially immense in the Indian context where traditional \systems of medicine have been used over the years to address human, animal and plant health. Globally, the potential is being recognized and it is becoming increasingly apparent that health for all can be assured only by strengthening traditional systems of medicine. Commercial importances of MAPs in recent years are expanding due to diversified usages of herbals in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic and agro-chemical industries. India's existing contribution to the present global herbal trade is meager, valuating at US$ 150 million annually. The Indian Herbal Export Trade Registered about 137% growth from ~554 crore (2005-06) to ~1,318 crore (2010-11). Of the global trade of $7,592 million in 2011, the' share of China and India was around $1,329 million and $790 million, respectively. Besides this, India is the second largest exporter of, raw medicinal plant material, next to China and its domestic market for medicinal plants being ~14,000 crore.

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NDIA being one of the biodiversity rich countries with a rich heritage of traditional medicine has the potential to be a leading player in this sector. Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops (MACs) is now gradually becoming an important avenue for additional income generationfor Indian farmers, particularly those with small landholdings, Synergy among research and developmental institutions,farming community and industry has scripted impressive success stories in mint, basil, chamomile, artemisia,isabgol, senna, ashwagandha and opium poppy. Medicinal and aromatic crops with well established industrial demand in domestic and global herbal trade represent a potential resource that can ideally fit into such technology integration efforts.

TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY Location-Specific Cultivation Till today, more than 80% of the plant material used in pharma and aromatic industries is presently collected from non-descriptive, uncharacterized land races from forestand other wild resources. More often than not, such collections are usually made using destructive harvests fromthe wild stands that pose a serious threat to country's biodiversity.This is neither sustainable nor acceptable in a globally competitive scenario. In order to arrest extinctionand rapid decline in biodiversity of MAPs and to maintain a sustained supply of quality raw material for theproduction of herbal formulations, there is a pressing need for a change in the shift of our mind-set from November-December

2016

"collection to cultivation" of MAPs. There are at least 35 major medicinal plants that can be cultivated in different agroclimatic zones of the country and there is an established global demand for their raw produce and highvalue bioactive principles (Table 1). The cultivation of MAPs on marginal and degraded lands (saline/alkaline/waterlogged and ravines) is a highly promising approach for additional income generation and land quality improvement simultaneously. At present about a significant area in the country is either left barren or unculturable/ culturable waste due to different aberrants like soil and water erosion and saline soils which can be used for cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants

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Exploring hedge row agroforestry systems of MAPs

Table 1. Prioritized medicinal environments regions

plants

of different

Tropical

Adhatoda vesica, Andrographis paniculata, Aqui/laria agallocha, Centella asiatica, Dioscorea a/ata, Ocimum basi/icum, Plantago erosa, Withania somnifera, Vitex negundo, Paedaria foetida, Cryptolepis buchanani, Acorus calamus.

Subtropical

Arlemisia maritime, Hydnocarpus kurzii, Lavendula vera, Litsea cubeba, Mucuna pruriens, Pogostemon calelin, Zanthoxylum armatum, Curcuma caesia, Leonotis nepetaefolia. Coptis teeta, Geranium nepalensis, Panax pseudoginseng, Swerlia chirata, Picrorrhiza kurooa, Satyrium nepalensis, Rubia cordifolia, Taxus baccata, Orchis latifolia. Aconitum ferox, A. heterophy/lum, Illicium griffithii, Berberis spp., Podophy/lum hexandrum, Rheum emodi, Delphinium subulatum.

Temperate

Alpine

(Table 2). Cultivation of MAPs in marginal and degraded lands can not only improve the economic condition of small and marginal farmers owing to higher price and/or higher volume of their main and byproducts but also conserve the most important natural resources and sustainable utilization of marginal lands.

Improved Varieties The quality cf herbal products is dependent on quality of raw material used in the preparation. Several varieties rich in quality and yield have been developed in more than 35 MAPs in our country. The high-yielding varieties of some MAPs with certain special features of them are presented (Table 3).

Alternative Cropping System Integration of MAPs in the existing cropping=system is most important and promising intervention for increasing income of small and marginal farmers. South Asian countries including India have a .tradition of practicing mixed farming system that may include medicinal and aromatic plants. MAPs have ease of their incorporation in the exiting cropping system due to availability of a large number of species and choice of plant types such as tree, shrubs, herbs, vines and their suitability to grow in different agro-physical conditions offer great opportunities and advantages (Table 4).

MAPs under Agro-Forestry Since many

of the MAPs are grown under

forest

Table 2. Promising MAPs suitable for cultivation under various environmental stresses and degraded soil conditions Environmental stress

Level of stress

Suitable

Moisture

Moderate

Medicinal plants: Chamomi/l arecutita, Catharanthus rose us, Andrographis paniculata, Tagetes minuta, Arlemisia annua, Withania sommnifera. Aromatic plants: Cymbopogon sp. Medicinal plants: Aloe vera, Cassia angustifolia, Hyoscyamus muticus, Plantago ovata. Aromatic plants: Cymbopogon marlinii, C. flexuosus, Vetiveria zizanioides Medicinal plants: Chamomi/l arecutita, Plantago ovata. Aromatic plants: Jamarosa, Catharanthus rose us, Mentha citrata, M. piperita, M. gracilis, Vetiveria zizanioides Medicinal plants: Hyoscyamus muticus, H. niger. Aromatic plants: Artemisia annua, Cymbopogon marlini, Cymbopogon flexuosus Medicinal plants: Plantago ovata. Aromatic plants: Tagetes minuta, T. potu la, T. erecta, Cymbopogon flexuosus Aromatic plants: Vetiveria zizanioides, Chamomi/l arecutita, Cymbopogon marlin;;, Ocimum basilicum, O. sanctum ,.' Medicinal plants: Cassia angustifolia. Aromatic plants: Cymbopogon flexuosus, Vetiveria zizanioides Medicinal plants: Vetiveria zizanioides, Acorus colamus, Bacopa monnieri

stress

Severe Salinity stress

Moderate Severe

Sodicity stress

Moderate Severe

Degraded

lands

Gullied /ravines Surface water logged/ marshy land Salt affected soils Mining industrial wasteland

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MAPs

Aromatic plants: Cymbopogon flexuasus, C. marlinii, Vetiveria Zizanioides Medicinal plants: Catharanthus rose us, Chamomi/l arecutita. Aromatic plants: Cymbopogon flexuosus, C. marlinii, Vetiveria zizanioides

Indian

Horticulture

Tahle 3. Improved MAP varieties and their characteristics MAPs

Improved varieties

and their distinct features

Plantago ovata {isabgol}

Gujarat Isabgol- 1 {high seed yield}; Gujarat Isabgol-2 {high seed yield and moderately resistant to downey mildew disease}; Haryana Isabgol-S (high seed yield and moderately resistant to downey mildew disease); Jowchor Isabgol-4 {high seed yield}; Niharika (high seed yield); Vallabh Isabgol- 1 {high seed yield} Cassia angusfifolia {senna} AlFT -2 {high herbage yield and late flowering}; KKM Se.l {high herbage yield and suitable for rainfed cultivation}; Sono {high leaf yield and sennoside content} Withania somnifera Jawahar Asgand-20 {high root yield and Alkaloid content}; Jawahar Asgand-134 {high root yield}; RVA-100 {Ashwagandha} {early maturity and resistant to Alternaria blight}, Posh ita {long roots}; NMITlI-118 {errect plant type ond high root yield} Andrographis paniculata AK-l {high biomoss yield}; KI-S {early maturity}; CIM-Megha {bushy plant type} {kalmegh} Aloe vera {ghrit kumari} IC-111271 {high aloin content}; IC-111280 (high gel content); CIM-Sheetal {high leaf and sop yielding, suited to rainfed conditions} Asparagus racemosus CIM-Shakti {High root biomass and suitable for tropic, I & sub-tropical areas and sandy loom soil} {shotawar} Mentha arvensis MAS-l {early maturity}; Gomti (better regeneration after first harvesting); Himalaya (resistant to pests and {menthol mint} diseases); Cimap Saryu (high herbage yield) CIM-Krant (tolerant to cold); Kushal {tolerant to leaf spot, rust and powdery mildew} Kalka (tolerant to leaf spot and rust diseases and early maturity); Kosi {tolerant to leaf spot, rust and • powdery-mildew diseases} Mentha piperita Kukrail {high herb and oil yield with superior quality} (pipermint) Mentha spicata {Spearmint} Punjab Spearmint- 1 {suitable for temperate and sub tropical region}; MSS-S {toll herb and high oil yield}; Arka {toll herb and high oil yield}; Neerakalka Artemisia annua Asha, Jeevanraksha, Suraksha; Cim-Arogya {high herbage yield} {Artemisia} Vetiveria zizanioides

{Khus} Hyb-8 {All India cultivation}; Pusa Hybrid-7; CIMAPKS-2 {late flowering variety}; MS-l {suitable for drought and marginal land} Sugandha; Gulabi {Suitable for drought/marginal, water loged oreos and alkaline soils.}; Keshari {Suitable for drought/marginal land} Ocimum basilicum GAB-l; CIM Saumya {dwarf and early maturing}; Vikarsudha {toll and High methyl chavicol content}; (Indian basil) Kusmohak {superior oil quality} Pelargonium graveolens KKll {high oil yield} {Geranium} NlG-84 {high herbage and oil content}; Pragathi {dwarf high oil and citral content}; Nima {toll citral type}; Cymbopogon f/exuosus {lemongrass} Cauvery {toll citral type} ;Krishna {North Indian plains and South India}; Sugandhi {Better yield with good quality oil} CIMAP SUWARNA (Suitable for drought prone areas and marginal lands) Cymbopogon tnortinii Roshagrass Haryana-49 {high herbage yield and Gerniol content} CI-80-68 {tall and high essential oil content}; Trisha {drought/marginal land and alkaline soils}; CIMAP HARSH {suitable for north indian {Palmarosa} plains, south india} Cymbopogon winterianus Manjusha {suitable for indian gangetic plains}; Mandakini {suitable for gangetic plains specially tarai areas (Java Citronella) of foot hills}; Manjari {suitable for gangetic plains}Bio-13 {less incidence of yellow leaf syndrome}; CIM Jeeva (enhance field establishment quality and suitable for gangetic plains).

cover and are shade tolerant, agro-forestry offers a convenient strategy for promoting their cultivation and conservation. Several approaches are feasible: integrating shade tolerant MAPs as lower strata species in multistrata systems; cultivating short cycle MAPs as intercrops in existing stands of plantation tree-crops and new forest plantations; growing medicinal trees as shade providers, boundary markers, and on soil conservation structures; interplanting MAPs with food crops; involving them in social forestry programs; and so on. The growing demand for MAPs makes them remunerative alternative crops to traditional ones for small holders in the tropics.

High-tech Cultivation Though economic importance of medicinal plants is well known, it is considered as a forestry sub-sector (nontimber forest products) in India. Recognizing and addressing the needs of each of the stakeholders involved requires a holistic approach for over all development of the medicinal and aromatic plants sector. Several studies have clearly brought out the economic potential of medicinal plants in different agroclimatic conditions. The potential return to the farmers from cultivation of

~\;)et-December

2016

medicinal plants is reported to be quite high in case of certain high altitude Himalayan herbs. The success story on cultivation of opium poppy in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, isabgol cultivation in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, senna cultivation in Rajasthan, mentha cultivation in Uttar Pradesh, palmarosa cultivation in central India, jasmine cultivation in south India and saffron cultivation in Kashmir are well known. However, more research is needed for proper planning for cultivation and utilization of medicinal plants with modem science and technological interventions keeping in view their ecological and aesthetic values. The following science led Hitechnological interventions are suggested to make the medicinal and aromatic plants more productive and profitable enterprise. Quality seed and planting material: Planting material plays an important role the production of any crop. Inadequate availability of quality planting material is one of the important deterring factors in development of a sound MAP industry. Farmers .aD not \iave -access 'to certified disease free material as a result of which production, productivity and quality of the produce suffers. The seed producer should follow all required practices

in

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Table 4. Kharif

Promising medicinal and aromatic

season crop

Ocimum basilicum, O. sanctum, Andrographis paniculata, Cassia angusfifolia, Abe/moschus moschatus, Withania somnifera

plants (MAPs) suitable for integration

Rabi season

crop

Zaid

season crop

Withania somnifera, Papaver somniferum, Mentha arvensis, Pelargonium spp., Plantago ovata,Chamomi/l arecutita, Aloe vera, Aloe vera, Artemisia annua Silybum marianum, Lepedium sativum

and parameters for quality seed production. Several varieties of these crops which can be multiplied through seed chain system and supplied to the farmers, have been developed. Nursery management: Nursery management for production of disease and pest free quality planting material of several vegetatively propagated crops like bhrami, mentha, lemon grass, palmarosa, jasmine etc are very important. There is also a ready market in nearby towns, cities, arogyamelas, other social fairs and religious gatherings for medicinal plants due to awareness on use of household herbal products. Hi-tech nurseries with controlled climate can be employed for the production and supply of high quality disease free planting material of medicinal and aromatic plants. Micropropagation: It is also a grey area where the highly commercially exploited medicinal plants can be multiplied and supplied to the clients. This is highly effective technology to maintain a strain containing higher percentage of principal bioactive compound. Protected cultivation: Protected cultivation is the future of MAP crops for production of high quality produce for internal and domestic markets. There are different types of protected structures being adopted for horticultural crops based on the agro-climatic region and the availability of different inputs which may be adopted for MAPs. This is the challenging area of research and development for the development of MAP sector under changing climatic conditions and market forces.

Harvesting and Post-harvest Management The MAP are used as raw materials where different plant parts (root, root bark, stem, stem bark, leaf, flower, fruit, seed, and whole plant and the combination of any of the parts) are used as drug and also the extracts and secondary metabolites are used in various formulations. Therefore, the quality of the produce depends on the harvest at particular physiological stage of the plant. This optimum stage of harvest may differ with special to species. to special to species, and place to place depending on prevailing environment. This is the stage where the biological yield and chemical content are optimum and this decides the quality as well profitability of the crop. Therefore, it is essential to harvest the crop at optimum stage of harvest. Post-harvest losses occur at each and every step of the supply chain. The losses at the farm level occur due to improper harvesting methods, handling techniques and aggregation of the produce and then in transportation. At the wholesale level, the major losses occur due to rough handling and inappropriate storage. Value addition which in simple terms denotes to make things valuable or important in terms of economic gain, time and money saving in preparation, quantity and quality improvement or modification of raw ingredients for specific

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in prevailing cropping system

desirable characteristics is also assuming lot of importance. Though the production of MAP requires full care at each stage of production but the post-harvest management, monitoring the shelf-life and need based value addition is more crucial and requires full attention. Removal of excess moisture from the produce through proper methods of sun drying and shade drting is very essential. It is advisable to use the solar driers and other mechanical driers as per the requirement of the produce to ensure the required moisture and colour and to fetch premium prices.

Marketing and Value Chain Unfortunately, there is no regulated market to control the various marketing practices involved in the entire supply chain of MAP. The trade in medicinal plants in India is as being extremely complex, secretive, traditional, and unregulated. No reliable system of matching trade names to botanical names. In the trade, a species is known by its local name, which can change from one market to another or from one region to another. The industry may have buy-back arrangements with growers to purchase the required quantity and quality produce. The MAPs growers receive only a small part of price paid by the consumers as lion's share is being taken by chain of middlemen. The high profit margin of intermediaries is quite disproportionate to their services. The R&D organizations should provide the technologies and trainings to the growers at one hand and on another hand assured supply of raw material to the industries with assured buy back at predecided prices. There is a necessity to integrate farm production with national and international markets to enable farmers to undertake market driven production plan and adoption of modern marketing practices. Varying models of alternative marketing mechanism can be used for effective marketing system in medicinal and aromatic plants. In the present scenario, farming is becoming more and more competitive in entrepreneurial mode, to maintain income levels of small farm families across the country, need to become more inventive, diversified, and remunerative. This needs a virtual transformation of the agriculture and rural economy towards higher value-added production by adding high value medicinal and aromatic crops in the system as a whole. Production of medicinal and aromatic plants ensuring quality standards will certainly fulfill the goal of 'Health for all' and household health and livelihood security. For further Dr

Nagaraja Aromatic Dr

Kumar

Reddy Plants

RS Jot

write

Research,

(Scientist),

to:

(Director),

R (Scientists),

Research, Bharatpur

E-mail:

please

interaction,

Jitendra

Boriavi

Directorate

Drs

Directorate 387310, of

BB

Basak

of Medicinal

and and

Anand, Gujarot.

Rapeseed and Mustard

321 303, Rajasthan. "Correspondinq author

[email protected]

Indian Horticulture