Cultivation of Safed Musli in Palasboni panchayat . Picture by Anup Sinha

Jamshedpur, Aug. 22: With the rains playing truant and adversely hitting the cultivation of traditional produce, farmers in the state are moving to greener pastures by undertaking the cultivation of Safed Musli, a medicinal plant, which is much in demand in the international market.

Four farmers of Palasboni panchayat under Jamshedpur block have begun to grow Safed Musli. “Safed Musli’s roots have good commercial value. They are an important ingredient for stimulating drugs,” said one of the growers, Nityanand Mahato. He said the state horticulture department had provided funds to grow the medicinal plant. Before underaking the cultivation of the plant, Mahato had attended an advanced training programme at a Hyderabad-based horticulture institute.

According to sources in the horticulture department, Ranchi, the commercial production of Safed Musli has been undertaken in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. The department survey found that the plant could be easily grown in districts like East Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, West Singhbhum and Gumla. Therefore, the department encouraged farmers to undertake commercial production of Safed Musli.

According to sources, Safed Musli’s roots have good commercial value in the international market, as several medicinal companies abroad use them to make stimulating drugs. Sources said a Noida-based company, which processes Safed Musli before exporting them, acquires the plant from indigenous traders.

The cultivation of Safed Musli is a good source of income for farmers here because dry Safed Musli roots are sold at the rate of Rs 500 per kg and the processed roots are sold at Rs 1,700 per kg. In the international market, the rate is Rs 3,000 per kg. According to sources, Safed Musli is grown on barren land and does not require much water.