Description :
Shatavari in Sanskrit means “the plant with hundred roots” owing to the roots of this natural herb that are enriched with medicinal properties and are regularly used in the preparation of various ayurvedic formulations. Some scriptures also mention the plant as “one with hundred husbands” since the plant is extremely beneficial for enhancing women health and promotes libido in women.
Shatavari has been used for centuries as a harmone balancer and a general tonic to uplift female health and libido. Being a powerful adaptogenic herb, it not only relieves one from physical and emotional stress but also manages diabetes mellitus, prevents high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and helps in the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections, oedema, infertility, depression and cancer.
Cultivation
Satavar is common throughout the tropical and subtropical regions, particularly central India. It is also found up to an altitude of 1500 m in subtropical Himalayas. By nature, the plant is xerophytic and prefers the semi-arid to subtropical, cool environment.
CLIMATE AND SOIL
Soil – black, well drained and fertile soil is good for cultivation. But can be cultivated in loose and medium black soil. Climate- crop responses well to tropical and hot climate The plant pre-fers annual average rainfall of 600–1000 mm or less, of which 85% is received during July to September. A well-drained fertile sandy-loam to medium black soil, with a pH of 6–8 is best suited for its cultivation with staking support. Satavar can be grown in open land as well as un-der shade, but very high moisture levels result in rotting of root.
Propagation Material
Both seeds and root stumps can be used for propagation. However, seeds are preferable on account of high production that makes up for low germination percentage in cultivation. Seeds may be collected from March to May when their color changes from red to black.
Propagules Rate And Pre-Treatment
About 7 kg of seeds are required for raising seedlings for 1 hectare of crop. To obtain early and higher germination percentage, presoaking in water is required. Higher germination is also achieved by soaking the seeds in cow urine for 24 hours. The germination commences after 20 days of sowing and is completed in 30 days.
Land Preparation And Fertilizer
The land should be given a deep disc plugging, followed by harrowing and leveling. The field is normally divided into plots, keeping one irrigation channel in between two rows of plots. About 10 tones of well-decomposed FYM are thoroughly mixed in the soil one month before trans-planting. Shatavar. A fertilizer dose of 40 kg nitrogen, 20 kg phosphate, and 20 kg potash per hectare may be applied for better growth and higher tuberous root yield. One-third of nitrogen and entire dose of phosphate and potash should be placed 10–12 cm deep in the rows before transplanting.
Transplanting
The seedlings are ready for transplanting after 50-60 days of sowing. These are transplanted in field at the onset of monsoon in July. Keeping the plant-to-plant distance at 60 cm. Optimum number of seedlings required per hectare using the recommended spacing is about 150 000.
Satavar is normally grown as a monocrop, but it can be grown in inter spaces available in orc-hards having low light interception. Plants need staking material, thus poles or shrubs serve for support.
Intercropping
The field is irrigated immediately after planting if there are no rains for 2-3 days.
Satavar can be grown in rain-fed condition as well as irrigated.
On availability of irrigation water irrigation at the interval of 25-30 days may be given.
Frequent weeding is required during its early period of growth.
Care should be taken to avoid any damage to growing shoots at the time of weeding. Totally, about 2-3 hand weeding is needed to keep crop free of weeds.
Intercultural And Maintenance Practices
The balance two-third N is applied in two equal split doses during September and in late Feb-ruary. The fertilizer is broadcast in between the rows and mixed in soil Followed by irrigation, if the soil is dry. Satavar initially grows slowly for 60 days, which keeps inter-row space virtually vacant, allowing easy weed growth. It is necessary to carry out weeding and hoeing operations to keep the field free from weeds for initial two-month period. After two months, Satavar grows enough to cover the inter row spaces and prevents weed growth.
Harvesting
The crop matures in 18 months after planting. Rabi season, that is, November– December, is the best time for harvesting tuberous roots when the above-ground parts start turning pale yel-low. The crop, when harvested in 18 months, yields about 4–5 tones/hectare, while harvesting after 20 months yields about 6tones/hectare of tubers along with 35 kg hectare of seeds.
Cost Of Cultivation
The tuberous root yields 15%–20% of dry matter after removal of outer wall. An average shade-dried tuberous root yield of 4-5 tons per hectare is obtained from 18-month-old plants under experimental conditions. Including land preparation, nursery rising, cost of planting ma-terial, FYM, cost of transplanting, harvesting, peeling and processing for market, and so on. The calculated yield of 18- month-old crop of Satavar is 4-5 tones/hectare, which can fetch net re-turns of approximately Rs 1-1.25 laces/hectare.
Post Harvesting
The harvested toots are thoroughly washed preferably in flowing water, Thereafter, inner woody threads are removed by splitting the roots. The thin root barks are removed by scraping with a knife or incising them. In the traditional method, the roots are also kept in a bamboo basket on a pot of boiling water for five to ten minutes to facilitate easy removal of thread and root bark. But this method is really not required when freshly collected roots are peeled off. The roots are then dried in the shade for 8-10 days. The fresh roots lose about 90% of their weight after peeling and drying. In case of delay in peeling, it becomes extremely difficult later on. Value addition of root powder enhances marketability and sale and price. The roots get damaged within 3 to 4 months if threads in not immediately removed.
Average yield per acre is 2000 kg dried roots.
EXPENDITURE
| Distance (in acre) | Sapling(in land) | Cost of plants(per plants) | Total | Other expenses (as per require-ment) | Cost of cultivation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2*1-1/2 ft | 15,000 | 6 Rs./- | 6*15000 = 90,000 /- | Fertilizers Land preparation Labor expenses etc. | 90,000 /- |
| Total Cost Of Cultivation: 90,000/- |
INCOME
| Income of year | Total ROOTS(in year)) | Company buy back (per kg) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 month | 2000 kg (2 ton) | 250kg | 250*2000 = 5,00,000 |
| Total Income = 5,00,000 /- |
| Income of year | Total ROOTS(in year)) | Company buy back (per kg) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 month | 15000 kg (2 ton) | 15kg | 15000X15 = 2,25,000 |
| Total Income = 2,25,000/- |
Technical Support & Services:
We also provide technical support for farming. Our Service Department with technically quali-fied staff provide after sales service and farmers' advisory services to our customers to get bet-ter plant establishment and faster growth of Herbal and Horticultural plantations.
We have largest network of employees who deliver Plants to customers at their door steps. Free technical services to customers on planting method, management practices and plant pro-tection measures. Our teams of Agricultural Experts periodically visits and supervise the planta-tions and suggest necessary guidelines to get better growth and higher returns. The income & expenditure indicated by the company is an approximate figure, as it also depends on the na-ture and hard work of the farmer.
SERVICES
- This includes Supervision, consultancy, guidance, Transportation cost first year.
- First production starts after 1th year.
- Buy back agreement of Sarpgandha.
- The income expenditure indicated by the company is an approximated figure, as it also depends on the nature and hard work of the farmer.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF COMPANY
- This includes Supervision, consultancy, guidance, Transportation cost first year.
- First production starts after 18th month.
- Buy back agreement of Shatavar.
- The income expenditure indicated by the company is an approximated figure, as it also depends on the nature and hard work of the farmer.