Cultivation of Kutki: In today’s time, farmers are moving rapidly towards medicinal crops along with traditional farming. In view of the changing weather, market demand and profit, farmers have now started adopting new crops. Medicinal crops cost less and the profit from them is also good. One of these is the cultivation of Kutki, which can become a source of good income at low cost. This crop is especially beneficial for those farmers who farm in hilly or cold areas and want to do something new.
It is a medicinal plant whose roots are used in medicines. It is in great demand especially in Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy. Medicines made from its roots are considered effective in problems like digestion, liver and fever. It is cultivated successfully especially in hilly areas. In Himalayan regions like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, farmers are earning good profits by growing it.
What is a Kutki?
Kutki is a medicinal plant called Picrorhiza kurroa in English. This herb has been used in Ayurvedic medicines for a long time. Medicinal properties are found in its roots which are especially helpful in improving liver, digestion and immunity.
Climate and land required for Cultivation of Kutki
Hill areas with an altitude of 1800 to 2800 meters are considered suitable for the cultivation of Kutki. It likes cold climate and moist conditions. Talking about the soil, loamy and well-drained soil is considered good for Kutki.
pH value: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 15 to 25 degrees Celsius
How to prepare for farming?
Land preparation
The land should be plowed twice and made friable. After this, prepare the field by mixing cow dung manure or vermicompost well.
Seed or plant
Cultivation of Kutki is done in two ways:
Through seeds
From rhizome segments
Cultivation from seeds takes some time as germination can take 25 to 40 days. On the other hand, plants grow faster when cultivated from plant pieces.
Transplanting and spacing
The period from March to June is considered good for transplanting Kutki. Plants should be planted at a distance of 15×15 cm.
About 80-100 kg of seeds are required for 1 hectare of land.
If cultivating from rhizome, then 400-600 kg of pieces are required.
Care and irrigation
Kutki cultivation does not require much irrigation.
In the initial days, do light irrigation every 7-10 days.
Weeding and hoeing are done from time to time for weed control.
There is less possibility of pests and diseases, but it is better to adopt organic methods.
Harvesting and production
It takes 2 to 3 years for the Kutki crop to be ready. After removing the roots, they are washed thoroughly and dried in the sun. After drying, they can be sold in the market.
Production:
600-800 kg of dry root can be produced in 1 hectare.
Demand and earnings in the market
The most special thing about the cultivation of Kutki is its huge demand in the market. It is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicines, homeopathy and Unani medicine.
Its price in the market ranges from Rs 7000 to Rs 10,000 per kg.
One can earn about ₹7.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh from one hectare.
Medicinal Uses
Kutki roots are especially useful in these problems:
Liver related diseases
Digestive system disorders
Fever, cough and cold
To increase immunity
Apart from this, it is also considered an anti-oxidant and a natural remedy to reduce inflammation.
Precautions related to Kutki cultivation
Use only quality seeds or rhizomes while cultivating it.
Take care of the time of harvest, because harvesting too early or late can affect the quality.
It is important to dry the roots well at the time of processing or else they may get moldy.
Role of government and institutions
In some areas, the government and agricultural institutes also provide training and subsidy to promote the cultivation of Kutki. If farmers want, they can get information and technical assistance by contacting their nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
Conclusion
If you also want to do something new and profitable in farming, then Kutki cultivation can be a great option. With a little hard work and patience, you can earn good income from this medicinal crop. Along with this, medicinal farming will also be promoted in the country.
Contact us:
If farmers want to share information or experiences related to farming with us, then they can do this by calling us on the phone number 9599273766 or by writing an email to [email protected] or by sending your recording. Through Kisan of India, we will convey your message to the people, because we believe that if the farmers are advanced then the country is happy.