Stevia rebaudiana : A new herb in Chhattisgarh, India
Stevia rebaudiana : A new herb in Chhattisgarh, India
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
Since generations, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are using the leaves of Ratti as natural sweetener. Ratti is available in natural forests in abundance and it is one of the most frequently used herbs in the treatment of common diseases. Besides sweetening properties, the leaves of Ratti posses many valuable medicinal properties and uses. These uses have been mentioned in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India. According to these literatures, the Ratti leaves cure fevers, stomatitis, head complaints, asthma, thirst, tuberculous glands, caries of teeth etc. Also it improves taste and complexion. Ratti (Abrus precatorius) leaves also known as Indian liquorice or Gomchi, contain glycyrrhizin, a substance 50-60 times sweeter than sugar. Few days back when I presented new leaf powder, said to be 200-300 times sweater than sugar, to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, they got surprised. Curiously, they asked the name of new leaf powder, I replied this is new introduced species in Chhattisgarh named Stevia, and now be ready to start new experimentation with this herb. I am not aware that whether the government officials or concerned departments are knowing about the introduction of Stevia in India or not but this is the fact that it has reached to India and now many herb growers are planning for its commercial cultivation. Within few days, after receiving the leaf powder samples, the healers started complaining that they are not ready to use this new herb as they are feeling uneasy to use it regularly. I gave the information described in brochure about the benefits of this herb. According to the brochure, Stevia is useful as -tonic, to reduce acidity, to lower uric acid level etc. After taking the first dose, Stevia powder seems like miracle but I have perienced during my visit to well known hill station of South India, Ooty, but long use causes many uneasy feelings. The farm Chhattisgarh engaged in propagation of Stevia informed me that they have purchased the plants from South India. Many firms o Maharashtra particularly at Pune are also engaged in Stevia plants business. Unfortunately, the Indian scientists and research organizations are not aware of this introduction of new crop and like other medicinal and aromatic herbs the innovative farmers taking risk to cultivate this herb on the basis of information available. The available information are not enough and most of these informations are based on experiments and farming done outside the India. In absence of information and slow initiative by Indian Scientists, The businessmen are taking advantage by selling Stevia planting material at very high rates. Without knowing the processing method and possible market, they have declared Stevia as hi-value crop having many times importance than the Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) crop. The extreme heat and cold conditions of Chhattisgarh Plains are becoming curse for the Stevia farmers. The farmers are growing it in controlled conditions. In Southern parts of Chhattisgarh, the farmers are getting encouraging results. As bio-diversity expert, I am not in favour of this exotic species without detailed field trials by our scientific community. In past, we have introduced many such herbs for their beneficial properties but in India, most of them spread like weeds and today, they are damaging the farmer's budget. One of my farmers at Nagpur city, is eager to plant Stevia commercially after seeing the websites of Canada.. The conditions of Canada and India are totally different. Only through systematic research farmers of different parts of India must be encouraged to plant specific herbs like Stevia. This article is the first document describing the introduction of Stevia in Chhattisgarh. I will write more as the area under this new crop will increase and farmers start the experimentation on its organic cultivation. Also about the results of experiments of traditional healers with this herb. Thank you very much for reading the article.
http://www.pankajoudhia.com/RA1.pdf
Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia © 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved
Since generations, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are using the leaves of Ratti as natural sweetener. Ratti is available in natural forests in abundance and it is one of the most frequently used herbs in the treatment of common diseases. Besides sweetening properties, the leaves of Ratti posses many valuable medicinal properties and uses. These uses have been mentioned in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India. According to these literatures, the Ratti leaves cure fevers, stomatitis, head complaints, asthma, thirst, tuberculous glands, caries of teeth etc. Also it improves taste and complexion. Ratti (Abrus precatorius) leaves also known as Indian liquorice or Gomchi, contain glycyrrhizin, a substance 50-60 times sweeter than sugar. Few days back when I presented new leaf powder, said to be 200-300 times sweater than sugar, to the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, they got surprised. Curiously, they asked the name of new leaf powder, I replied this is new introduced species in Chhattisgarh named Stevia, and now be ready to start new experimentation with this herb. I am not aware that whether the government officials or concerned departments are knowing about the introduction of Stevia in India or not but this is the fact that it has reached to India and now many herb growers are planning for its commercial cultivation. Within few days, after receiving the leaf powder samples, the healers started complaining that they are not ready to use this new herb as they are feeling uneasy to use it regularly. I gave the information described in brochure about the benefits of this herb. According to the brochure, Stevia is useful as -tonic, to reduce acidity, to lower uric acid level etc. After taking the first dose, Stevia powder seems like miracle but I have perienced during my visit to well known hill station of South India, Ooty, but long use causes many uneasy feelings. The farm Chhattisgarh engaged in propagation of Stevia informed me that they have purchased the plants from South India. Many firms o Maharashtra particularly at Pune are also engaged in Stevia plants business. Unfortunately, the Indian scientists and research organizations are not aware of this introduction of new crop and like other medicinal and aromatic herbs the innovative farmers taking risk to cultivate this herb on the basis of information available. The available information are not enough and most of these informations are based on experiments and farming done outside the India. In absence of information and slow initiative by Indian Scientists, The businessmen are taking advantage by selling Stevia planting material at very high rates. Without knowing the processing method and possible market, they have declared Stevia as hi-value crop having many times importance than the Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) crop. The extreme heat and cold conditions of Chhattisgarh Plains are becoming curse for the Stevia farmers. The farmers are growing it in controlled conditions. In Southern parts of Chhattisgarh, the farmers are getting encouraging results. As bio-diversity expert, I am not in favour of this exotic species without detailed field trials by our scientific community. In past, we have introduced many such herbs for their beneficial properties but in India, most of them spread like weeds and today, they are damaging the farmer's budget. One of my farmers at Nagpur city, is eager to plant Stevia commercially after seeing the websites of Canada.. The conditions of Canada and India are totally different. Only through systematic research farmers of different parts of India must be encouraged to plant specific herbs like Stevia. This article is the first document describing the introduction of Stevia in Chhattisgarh. I will write more as the area under this new crop will increase and farmers start the experimentation on its organic cultivation. Also about the results of experiments of traditional healers with this herb. Thank you very much for reading the article.
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