Medicinal plants: A solution to virgin Bundelkhand's farm distress

JHANSI: The strawberry festival in the Bundelkhand region has ignited hope among the farmers to opt for other fruit crops like bel, falsa, Indian gooseberry, Buchanania lanzan (chironji), custard apple and fig.
These fruits, besides having a lot of medicinal value, can be grown in the prevailing climatic conditions of Bundelkhand. Apart from them, ginger, turmeric, kundru, pointed gourd and aloevera are some of the varieties which have a good yield.

Parched region
Sometimes good crop cultivation fails due to a number of reasons like water scarcity, erratic weather conditions and above all persisting stray cattle problems. But the region has adequate surface water and by using techniques like drip and sprinkle farming for irrigation, farmers can reduce the input cost.
Chief minsiter Yogi Adityanath has assured the farmers that the government would take quick remedial measures regarding irrigation and to solve the stray cattle problem for which projects have already been rolled down.

Virgin land
As per the experts, the soil of Bundelkhand region is free from pesticides which makes it more appropriate for growing medicinal plants which are in great demand in countries where there are stringent quality control regarding presence of pesticides in food or medicine products.

Strawberry
CM Yogi said that there is a general belief that the soil of the Bundelkhand region is not suitable for such fruits. “Strawberry could well prove to be an additional mode of earning for farmers of the region,” CM Yogi said.
Workshops are being organised during the month-long festival to encourage farmers opt for strawberries also. A work plan is also being made to encourage strawberry farming in Jhansi and other districts of the region.

Ginger and turmeric
Bundelkhand region is conducive for growing ginger and turmeric as it is sloppy in nature with an average yield of 100-180 quintal per hectare. The region has shown wonderful results in the past in growing good quality ginger and turmeric which has a good market.
“Director CAFRI, A Arunachalam said, “I feel Bundelkhand has immense opportunities for cultivation of such fruits which are quite conducive to the topographical conditions of this place, and require less water and efforts giving good results”.

RK Tiwari, senior scientist, Central AgroForestry Research Institute (CAFRI), Jhansi, said this is a unique combination seen in this region where these vegetables are grown. While turmeric is grown on the outer circle as it is not eaten by stray cattle, the rest of the three vegetables are grown side by side in the middle because the root vegetables give partial shade to turmeric and ginger, which is essential for their growth, he said.

Bel and falsa
RK Tiwari, senior scientist, Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI), Jhansi, said the Bundelkhand region is also good to grow dragon fruit which has a great demand in the upscale market. Bel and falsa which do not need much water can be grown in hot climatic conditions, and both have good medicinal values. The stems of falsa trees can be used for making baskets, he said.
Aonla, aloevera and lemongrass
“Aonla and aloevera can be grown on the boundaries of farmland. Lemon grass can be grown in waste lands because it requires just two cuttings without irrigation and 5-6 cuttings after a couple of irrigations. Since stray cattle stay away from grazing it, the grass helps in reducing soil erosion and it also has a good market value,” RK Tiwari said.
Amla and bel
There are a number of fruits which besides having good medicinal values also have a good yield in Bundelkhand giving value for money to the farmers for their produce. They are amla and bel.
Around 156 trees of Amla can be grown per hectare of land giving a yield of 1.56 tons after 5 years, 15.6 tons after 10 years and 23 tons after 15 years. Similarly, Bel cultivation can give a yield of 0.8 tons per hectare after years, 7.8 tons after years and 15.6 tons after 15 years.
Custard apple and guava
Experts say farmers can grow 277 trees of custard apple per hectare and produce 0.5 tons after 5 years of cultivation and 2.7 tons after 10 years.
Guava, which is a very potential fruit for Bundelkhand region, is also a high-yield fruit.