Planting technique of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) tubers: Some useful tips
Planting technique of Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) tubers: Some
useful tips
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved In general, the wonder crop Safed Musli is propagated through tubers. Each root bunch possesses many fingers. Many scientific studies conducted in different parts of India revealed that any finger having the part of crown portion is capable of giving birth to new plant. As I always write, in Safed Musli cultivation very few researcher organizations are engaged and as result the sellers are confusing the beginners and the beginners are in dilemma. Since 1994, when the commercial cultivation of Safed Musli was just started, we are recommending the use of good quality and healthy fingers as source for best quality dried Musli. As you know, the peeled roots are of commercial value and used as medicine. The inferior fingers must be used as planting material. Our old recommendations are now changing due to these sellers. As the demand of Safed Musli is increasing in national and international drug markets now more and more farmers are taking interest in its commercial cultivation. As result, the demand for wet Musli roots, used as planting material, has increased many folds as compared to the dry Musli, used as medicine. The sellers unaware of scientific findings are giving more emphasis on use of healthy and good quality roots as planting material. On the basis on its appearance, they have classified the Musli roots in four grades. They have named it as A,B,C, and D. The grade A is considered best for sowing and grade D is considered most or. In India, the farmers belong to many economic groups. For rich farmers, there is grade A Musli roots and the average farmers having not enough investing capacity, are forced to purchase the D grade Musli. We have found through experience that the grade A Musli roots must be used for medicinal purpose. The C & D grade roots must be used for planting purposes. In many Musli farms, the sellers mix the diseased or insect infested roots in D grade. It is not fair. The diseased or insect infected roots must neither use as medicine nor for planting purposes. This is sad that the gradation is done by the sellers, who have made these grades. There is no scientific base for this gradation. In the name of gradation, the average farmers are suffering a lot. Through this article, I would like to request the young researchers and research organizations to come forward to stop this malpractice and to provide guidance to the beginners. I would like to mention that in grade D Musli roots, many times the sellers add or Musli species, having similar appearance. As mentioned early, the root bunch having many fingers is used as planting material, our research have shown that one finger having the portion of crown is enough to give birth to new plant. The sellers recommend the use of 7-8 fingers together in spite of single finger. The use of so many fingers increase the seed rate per acre and as result the buyers (i.e. farmers) have to purchase 3- times more material from the sellers. For the business, they are ready to do all wrong things. I have visited many such sellers. You will be surprised to know that the sellers recommending the use of many fingers instead of single finger, plant single finger in their own farms. I have caught them red handed many times. To avoid any failure, many Musli growers use two fingers in place of one finger. To minimize the risk, their justification is correct but it is wrong to use 7-8 fingers (or more) to raise a single plant. This is very important information. Unfortunately, the correct information is not available with the beginners and as result, the sellers are cheating the beginners. This common observation motivated me to write this article for the Indian farmers. Safed Musli is basically a hardy crop and is having enough resistance to survive in odd conditions. Once the new leaves emerge from fingers, the role of fingers end. The new leaves manufacture food through photosynthesis and this food is stored in new fingers. The beginners unaware of this fact understand as more fingers can do more than this simple natural process, I would like to mention another malpractice. Few months back I got opportunity to visit Baitul city to purchase Safed Musli roots for planting purpose. We visited a farm without prior information. We shocked to see that the sellers engaged with the workers to paste the wet soil on Safed Musli roots. The intention was not good. The only purpose was to increase its weight. You will be surprised to know that more or less, most of the sellers do this malpractice. The the roots with soil and if asked, they reply, if the soil is removed, this can damage the roots and expose the skin. The beginners simply believe on this warning and readily pay the cost of soil with roots. To purchase the planting material, when I visited to one of the leading Musli farms in west India, I saw the same malpractice. I simply advise the seller that to collect the soil of one kg. Roots and weigh it. Deduct this weight from the weight of roots and charge only the price of roots. I offered him to pay the cost of one kg. Roots damaged (?) While collecting the soil. He denied and warned me not to show intelligence. As the planting material is limited to few hands at this time, it is very hard to expect the justice from the sellers. Unfortunately, the governments have no control over this malpractice and the beginners have no way to avoid the payment for soil. Some Musli growers of Chhattisgarh have now started campaign against this malpractice. They are using sharp bamboo sticks to clear the soil adhered with or in between the fingers. They are adopting the method suggested by me to deduct the weight of soil. I personally feel that there is a need to encourage these growers so that others can be motivated. The Indian farmers are establishing Safed Musli as Millennium crop. To get real success, it is very essential to stop the malpractices and cheating and to help and guide the innovative growers in proper way. Through regular articles, I am trying to do this. May I expect the same efforts by our researchers and scientists?
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved In general, the wonder crop Safed Musli is propagated through tubers. Each root bunch possesses many fingers. Many scientific studies conducted in different parts of India revealed that any finger having the part of crown portion is capable of giving birth to new plant. As I always write, in Safed Musli cultivation very few researcher organizations are engaged and as result the sellers are confusing the beginners and the beginners are in dilemma. Since 1994, when the commercial cultivation of Safed Musli was just started, we are recommending the use of good quality and healthy fingers as source for best quality dried Musli. As you know, the peeled roots are of commercial value and used as medicine. The inferior fingers must be used as planting material. Our old recommendations are now changing due to these sellers. As the demand of Safed Musli is increasing in national and international drug markets now more and more farmers are taking interest in its commercial cultivation. As result, the demand for wet Musli roots, used as planting material, has increased many folds as compared to the dry Musli, used as medicine. The sellers unaware of scientific findings are giving more emphasis on use of healthy and good quality roots as planting material. On the basis on its appearance, they have classified the Musli roots in four grades. They have named it as A,B,C, and D. The grade A is considered best for sowing and grade D is considered most or. In India, the farmers belong to many economic groups. For rich farmers, there is grade A Musli roots and the average farmers having not enough investing capacity, are forced to purchase the D grade Musli. We have found through experience that the grade A Musli roots must be used for medicinal purpose. The C & D grade roots must be used for planting purposes. In many Musli farms, the sellers mix the diseased or insect infested roots in D grade. It is not fair. The diseased or insect infected roots must neither use as medicine nor for planting purposes. This is sad that the gradation is done by the sellers, who have made these grades. There is no scientific base for this gradation. In the name of gradation, the average farmers are suffering a lot. Through this article, I would like to request the young researchers and research organizations to come forward to stop this malpractice and to provide guidance to the beginners. I would like to mention that in grade D Musli roots, many times the sellers add or Musli species, having similar appearance. As mentioned early, the root bunch having many fingers is used as planting material, our research have shown that one finger having the portion of crown is enough to give birth to new plant. The sellers recommend the use of 7-8 fingers together in spite of single finger. The use of so many fingers increase the seed rate per acre and as result the buyers (i.e. farmers) have to purchase 3- times more material from the sellers. For the business, they are ready to do all wrong things. I have visited many such sellers. You will be surprised to know that the sellers recommending the use of many fingers instead of single finger, plant single finger in their own farms. I have caught them red handed many times. To avoid any failure, many Musli growers use two fingers in place of one finger. To minimize the risk, their justification is correct but it is wrong to use 7-8 fingers (or more) to raise a single plant. This is very important information. Unfortunately, the correct information is not available with the beginners and as result, the sellers are cheating the beginners. This common observation motivated me to write this article for the Indian farmers. Safed Musli is basically a hardy crop and is having enough resistance to survive in odd conditions. Once the new leaves emerge from fingers, the role of fingers end. The new leaves manufacture food through photosynthesis and this food is stored in new fingers. The beginners unaware of this fact understand as more fingers can do more than this simple natural process, I would like to mention another malpractice. Few months back I got opportunity to visit Baitul city to purchase Safed Musli roots for planting purpose. We visited a farm without prior information. We shocked to see that the sellers engaged with the workers to paste the wet soil on Safed Musli roots. The intention was not good. The only purpose was to increase its weight. You will be surprised to know that more or less, most of the sellers do this malpractice. The the roots with soil and if asked, they reply, if the soil is removed, this can damage the roots and expose the skin. The beginners simply believe on this warning and readily pay the cost of soil with roots. To purchase the planting material, when I visited to one of the leading Musli farms in west India, I saw the same malpractice. I simply advise the seller that to collect the soil of one kg. Roots and weigh it. Deduct this weight from the weight of roots and charge only the price of roots. I offered him to pay the cost of one kg. Roots damaged (?) While collecting the soil. He denied and warned me not to show intelligence. As the planting material is limited to few hands at this time, it is very hard to expect the justice from the sellers. Unfortunately, the governments have no control over this malpractice and the beginners have no way to avoid the payment for soil. Some Musli growers of Chhattisgarh have now started campaign against this malpractice. They are using sharp bamboo sticks to clear the soil adhered with or in between the fingers. They are adopting the method suggested by me to deduct the weight of soil. I personally feel that there is a need to encourage these growers so that others can be motivated. The Indian farmers are establishing Safed Musli as Millennium crop. To get real success, it is very essential to stop the malpractices and cheating and to help and guide the innovative growers in proper way. Through regular articles, I am trying to do this. May I expect the same efforts by our researchers and scientists?
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