Surinder Sud: All about Aloe vera

FARM VIEW

Aloe vera, the ancient medicinal plant that has been virtually rediscovered, is facing a demand explosion. This succulent plant with healing properties is being sought after by industries that include cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, among others.

Though it has traditionally been a household plant in India and is used extensively in home remedies, its commercial exploitation has been limited.

However, now that farm scientists have come out with a package of agronomic practices for scientific cultivation to reap bumper Aloe harvests, entrepreneurs are coming forward to grow it for commercial purposes too.

The way has also been paved for tapping the big export market currently dominated by the Caribbean Islands, notably Aruba, which has come to acquire the nickname "Island of Aloe".

Aloe vera is known by many names in the Indian languages "" Ghrit kumari, Kunvar pathu, Kunvari, Kunvar and, of course, Indian Aloe. That the plant was held in high esteem in the olden days can be gauged from the Greeks' description of it as the "universal panacea" and the Egyptians calling it the "plant of immortality".

Even the American Indians knew its virtues and termed it as the "wand of heaven". It is also commonly referred to as the "burn plant" for its power to heal burn injuries.

Belonging to the lily family, Aloe vera is a succulent plant resembling cactus. The leaves are thick, long and tapering, and smooth and rubbery to touch. It is these leaves that have a bitter tasting juice, also called gel, which has curing properties and is used in various forms for producing different end-products.

Scientists have now confirmed that the plant juice contains a mix of antibiotic, astringent, coagulating agent, pain reliever, cell growth stimulator and scar inhibitor ingredients.

As such, it is used in the cosmetic industry for the preparation of shampoos, face creams, shaving creams and moisturising agents. In the pharmaceutical sector, it is used in making a large number of drugs for fever, enlarged liver, spleen and other glands, skin diseases, gonorrhoea, constipation, menstrual suppressions, piles, jaundice and rheumatic diseases.

The predominant use till now, however, has been in the treatment of burns and bruises. But other uses are fast catching up in popularity.

Scientists of the Anand-based National Research Centre for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (NRCMAP) have been working on Aloe vera to identify the most suitable agronomic practices for raising a bumper crop. Their technology package is now available for the cultivators to adopt.

With this package, an Aloe grower can earn a profit of up to Rs 25,000 per hectare on medium fertile soils. Even on sub-marginal and marginal lands, which is unsuitable for most other commercial crops, the profits from the sale of Aloe leaves can be as much as Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 per hectare.

Moreover, the growers can augment their returns by selling Aloe suckers as well. The suckers are underground outgrowth from the roots that are separated from the parent plants and are used as planting material for sowing a fresh crop.

The best part of Aloe vera cultivation is that it is a perennial crop and can be raised in normal as well as arid and semi-arid areas throughout the country, except in the cold regions. Even marginally-alkaline lands, which have excess of sodium and potassium, and are incapable of supporting many other crops, can be used for growing this hardy plant.

Thus, large tracts in states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are eminently suited for the commercial cultivation of Aloe, although good harvest can be had elsewhere as well with new technology. Also, the plant does not face any major problems with pests and diseases. The fields, of course, need to be kept free of weeds.

The crop is planted by putting the suckers in ploughed and levelled soil. The best time for sowing is July-August. However, in areas where irrigation is available, it can be sown the year-round, barring peak winters (November to February).

Application of farmyard manure helps in its faster and optimum growth. Addition of wood ash in the plant root zone has been found to help in the establishment of fresh plants and their subsequent growth, according to the NRCMAP experts.

Harvesting of plant leaves for sale can be taken up three to four times a year from the second to fifth year of the crop growth for best returns. However, scientists have a word of caution for the new cultivators.

They should find out the marketing outlets before taking a plunge because, like several other commercial crops, its marketing is confined primarily to the areas around the user industries.