SMPB NEWS

Medicinal Plant Cultivation under Tribal Development Programme

Friday, October 1, 2021

In Kannur, the medicinal plant cultivation is part of tribal development programmes and is now in its third phase of expansion. They started it on three acres at Vathilmada tribal hamlet. Adalodakam, kurumthotti and chethikoduveli were the varieties cultivated by the 10-member JLG. In addition, they generated revenue by selling the saplings of ramacham, thulasi, cheroola, chethikoduveli, adalodakam and shathavari.

At Attappady, the tribal block in Palakkad district, iruveli (fragrant swamp mallow), aloe vera and wild asparagus are grown on 70 acres. Also, the tribals, especially from the Kurumba community, are engaged in procurement and sale of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) that include medicinal plants such as ottila, moovila (sticky-pod weed), mudathekku, kunthirikkam (Frankincense), chunda (Turkey berry), kurumthotti and cheenikka (soap pod or shikakai). “The products are handed over to Kurumba society, which in turn sells it to various pharmaceutical companies.