Aloe vera
Perennial succulent, adapted to poor soils, used in medicines/cosmetics
Planting season
Year round (except extreme heat/cold)
Planting
37,000 plants/ha with a planting distance of 0.6m x 0.45ms
Economics
Leaves can be harvested one year after planting with a yield of 525
quintals/ha.The net returns are Rs 50,000/ha
Bacopa monnieri
Annual, entire plant medicinally useful as memory enhancer
Planting season
Monsoon
Planting
1,35,000 plants/acre with a planting distance of 0.15m x 0.2m
Economics
300 qq/ha of fresh herb and 60q/ha of dry herb can be obtained.Net
income of Rs.1,65,000/ha can be expected
Centella asiatica
Annual, leaves used in medicinal preparations for memory enhancement
Planting season
Spring
Planting
45,000 plants/acre with a spacing of 0.3 m x 0.3 m
Economics
Harvesting can be started three months from planting with a yield
of 5.5 tonnes fresh herb or 2 tonnes dry herb (20 kg asiaticoside)/ha
Chlorophytum borivilianum
Perennial, root tubers find medicinal use as revitalizers
Planting season
Monsoon
Planting
With a spacing of 8'' x 8 '', about 450 kgs(1,00,000 nos.) of planting
material is required
Economics
On an average this crop gives a yield of 20-30 quintals of wet musli
per acre.After peeling and drying 4-4.5 qunitals dry musli (Rs.1800-3000/kg)
is finally obtained.
Swertia chirata
Annual, entire plant has medicinal value for fever, skin diseases
& asthma
Planting season
Spring
Planting
27,000 plants/ha at a spacing of 0.6 m x 0.6 m
Economics
Harvesting can be done 6-8 months after planting.Net returns are Rs.300-400/kg
Artemisia spp.
Annual/perennial shrub with fragrant leaves used in perfumery
Planting season
Spring/early autumn
Planting
55,000 plants/ha at a spacing of 0.3m x 0.6 m
Economics
The leaves are harvested after 4 months.The yield is 30 tonnes/ha
with 10-12 kg oil/ha
Pelargonium spp.
Annual, leaves used for extraction of aromatic oils
Planting season
Monsoon
Planting
20,000 plants/ha at a spacing of 0.5m x 1 m
Economics
The leaves can be harvested 6-8 months after planting with a yield
of 8 kg oil/ha.Crops can be harvested in the subsequent 2-3 years
also with yields ranging from 8-18 kg/ha
Pogostemon cablin
Annual, leaves used for extraction of aromatic essential oils
Planting season
April- September (irrigation) and June-September (rain-fed)
Planting
12000-15000 plants/acre with a spacing of 0.6 m x 0.6 m
Economics
Average three harvests per year for 3 years.The yield of green leaves
is 55-66 q/ac/year and that of dry leaves 10-12 q/ac/year.Oil recovery
@3.75 kg/q of dry leaves is 37.5 to 45 kg per acre/year.The net income
from dry leaves is Rs 9.50/kg and that from oil is 350.00/kg
Vanilla planifolia
Perennial, fruits widely used for flavoring food and beverages
Planting season
May-June
Planting
3000 plants/ha at a planting distance of 1.25m x 2.5 m (app 3200 plants)
or 1.5 m x 3 m (app.222 plants)
Economics
The pods can be harvested from third year after planting upto 15 years
with net returns of Rs.39,20,000/ha after 15 years.At a minimum price
of Rs 150 for one kg,a year's income comes up to Rs 75,000 per acre
