Two stake holders have
raised the issue on the quality of raw materials used in the manufacture of
Siddha and Ayurvedic medicines. One drug manufacturer with GMP facility used to
talk about his concern on the quality of dry ginger – Chukku he receives for
drug manufacture in the last decade – most of them from imported source with
very little pungency, aroma and more of fibre. A retired Indian Administrative
services officer used to raise the question on using herbal ingredients which
are grown with hybrid planting material, heavily treated with chemical
fungicides, pesticides and fertilizers- She used to ask, are these things safe
to human and will they have the same benefits and safety profile as mentioned
in traditional texts of Ayurveda and Siddha?
These questions were always haunting me. So I decided to be on a trial
of some of the key raw materials. Dry Ginger – Chukku being a key ingredient in
most Siddha, Ayurveda formulations, even the one like Sowbagya suntee, which is
used by lactating mothers. So it become a natural choice. After a detailed literature
search on sourcing pattern, cultivation areas in south India were identified,
and we decided to travel to the region personally and interact with
Agricultural university, Spices research Departments both in Tamilnadu and
Kerala, Horticultural departments in cultivation areas, NGO’s involved in
capacity building, farmers both growing organically and otherwise. The area
covered included Coimbatore districts, western slope villages of Nilgiris,
Wayanad district – Sultan bathery, Kalpeta, Gundalpet area of Karnataka and
Satyamangalam region of Erode district.
The key outcome of the
studies is as under
- TNAU Spices department feels the area under cultivation is very meager in TN either organic or otherwise. No specific package of practices has been developed for ginger- organic cultivation, the practices recommended by the spices board is disseminated among farmers but no documentation of pest , disease and their management is done, though solutions are suggested to farmers. The same view is echoed by the State horticulture department in Coimbatore district.
- The Technical officer in Spices research centre of KAU feels though some farmers claim they grow organically, 98% use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides etc but feels. organic cultivation is feasible and he showed few cultivation sites. The same sentiment was echoed by the Associate director of Research, Spice research centre, KAU. But there was variation in cost estimate and yield. They feel Rio de janero and Rajat are superior in terms of yield both for table use and dry ginger process.
- There is a NGO which promotes organic farming (MSSRF) and they took us to few farmers who are cultivating native Maran variety very successfully near Kalpeta for processing it into dry ginger. The farmer also grows Varatha variety for table/cooking use
- Satyamangalam organic farmers looks like using multiple natural products like VAM, Azo, Phosphobacterium, Trichoderma, Panchakavya, Amirthakaraisal, Moor karaisal etc which may not be feasible by all
- On observation and measuring – Maran Variety scores over others in terms of yield, dry ginger output low fibre content, better oleoresin content. 360 bags of 60 kg each per acre.
- Sandy loom or alluvial soil is best suited. A bund of one meter breadth is made and mother seeds are planted at 30 cm gap between two. Most of the cultivation is rain fed as the area receives rainfall for 6 months during the crop season. Feb is the month of sowing. Harvesting is completed by Dec
- Harvesting at 240 days from the appearance of first tiller from mother rhizome provides better quality yield.
- Excepting some rotting during water stagnation not many pest or disease affect the crop which requires intervention. But still farmers use pesticides and fertilizers as routine
To
conclude Organic cultivation of ginger is possible as input cost is lesser and
output is more or less equal and definitely not less than conventional crop and
organic cultivation various rhizomes used in Siddha and Ayurveda is possible
and a systemic effort to promote them is necessary among farmers, ayurvedic
industry and end users.
Incidentally
the study trip was adventurous as we traveled across Anaikatty, Silent valley,
Wyanad and Mudhumalai tiger reserve, Muthanga wild life sanctuary, Bandhipur
wild life sanctuary and Sathyamangalam tiger reserve. On the day of our visit
there was a tiger attack on a woman, who died very close to the estates we were
traveling. But we were asked to vacate the area immediately by our senior forest officer friend on telephone and advised as not to travel after sun set. Timely warning.
I must acknowledge the following persons. Kerala Director of IMPCOPS Dr. Arunbaby helped a lot in networking in his area. I must say the Associate director of Research Dr.Rajasekar of Kerala Agriculuture university and Mr.Rajamony Technical officer went out of the way to interact with us at their homes till late in the night.Mr. Vargeese of MSSRF - Kalpetta took us to farmers for on site interaction. Ramanji of Green Kovai, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam helped with logistics.
I must acknowledge the following persons. Kerala Director of IMPCOPS Dr. Arunbaby helped a lot in networking in his area. I must say the Associate director of Research Dr.Rajasekar of Kerala Agriculuture university and Mr.Rajamony Technical officer went out of the way to interact with us at their homes till late in the night.Mr. Vargeese of MSSRF - Kalpetta took us to farmers for on site interaction. Ramanji of Green Kovai, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam helped with logistics.
