“Queen of herbs” or sacred Tulsi is an excellent shrub which belongs to the family of “Lamiacea”. This plant has been cultivated in India for ages for a variety of purposes. Tulsi contains a number of therapeutic characteristics that make it even more useful.
Tulsi farming to beat COVID-19:
Now, a team of academics from SOA University has taken up organic Tulsi production in an attempt to tackle Covid-19. According to Indian Express, the researchers hope to boost Tulsi cultivation among local farmers with this project. The project is being carried out by the university's Centre for Biotechnology as part of a Department of Science and Technology program. In Khurda, farming is done in the panchayats of Angarpada, Chhatabara, and Mendhasala.
“Each part of the Tulsi plant like its seed, leaf, and stem have medicinal benefits if consumed as they contain a good amount of Vitamin A and B and also minerals like Calcium, Zinc, and Iron,” said Basudeb Kar, Investigator.
Earn 3-4 lakhs in three months by Tulsi cultivation:
Tulsi is a very demanding plant due to its numerous health benefits. As a result, farmers benefit greatly from the production of medicinal plants, also known as pharmacological plants. Many farmers in India have begun to cultivate medicinal plants in order to supplement their income. The main benefit of growing medicinal plants like tulsi is that it yields high earnings in a short amount of time at a minimal cost.
Farmers can simply invest Rs. 15000 to 20000 and earn 3 to 4 lakhs in three months. Hence, it is not wrong to call tulsi farming a profitable business for farmers.
Let’s understand the benefits of growing Tulsi Plant:
1. Tulsi is a hard plant with medicinal properties
Tulsi is regarded as refined, and its market is in high demand. Basil is planted in April and May, and it comes in two varieties: seeds and plants. To cultivate one hectare, around 10 kg of seed is required (2.5 acres). As it is a hard plant, there are no major diseases affecting it.
2. Low investment (15,000-20,000)
Not a huge amount is required for starting tulsi farming. Only an investment of around 15 - 20 thousand rupees is needed for one hectare. But, there may be other requirements like weeding, irrigation, etc.
3. Earn good income by tulsi farming
The Tulsi plant produces two sorts of products: seeds and leaves. In the mandis, seeds cost between Rs.150 and Rs.200 per kg. Its oil costs between Rs.700 and Rs.800 per kilogram. If you raise data based on this, you can easily earn 2 to 2.25 lakh.
Tulsi Harvesting
By three months following transplantation, these plants have begun to yield. Harvesting occurs when the plant is fully bloomed. Cutting should be done when the plant is at least 15 cm above the ground for additional branch regeneration. The leaves can be utilized right away or sun-dried for further use.
Post-Harvest
The leaves are dried after harvesting. Basil oil is then obtained using steam distillation. It is packed in sealed bags for transit. Leaves must be kept in a dry environment. After processing the herb, many products such as Panch Tulsi oil, Tulsi Ginger, Tulsi Powder, Tulsi Tea, and Tulsi Capsules are created.
(You can also read Medicinal Plant Cultivation in India)
