Plantation Crops

Kalpagathara (Tree of life) or Kalpaghataru or Kalpakavirucham

All the parts of the palm are useful and over 800 various uses are reported and hence this palm is known as kalpagathara.
Since every part of this palm is utilized it is known as kalpakaviruchum.
Edible products of palmyra : Neera, Toddy, Sugar, Jaggary, Candy, Vinegar etc
Commercial products of palmyra : Wood, leaves, roots, Fibre, fruit pulp, fruit fibre etc. It is a source of food, Neera or padaneer is a transparent and sweet drink having pleasant smell.

Composition
Sugar – 12- 16 per cent,
Vitamin c (Ascorbic acide),
Vitamin B ( B- complex) and essential amino acids.

Neera is drunk as such or used for preparation of secondary products.
It includes;
• Toddy : Due to fermentation of neera (sugary sap) by yeast and bacteria. It contains 5 per cent alcohol.
• Jaggary : By concentration of neera through gradual boiling. The jaggary is sweet, delicious and superior to cane jaggary.
• Palm sugar : Crystallized sap juice obtained by boiling and clarifying,
• Palm cola : Aerated soft drink containing palm sugar ( 11 %), Citric acid, cola concentrate and food colours along with other ingredients.
• Palm candy : Directly produced from the sap. It is boiled only to 107 to 108 ? C === Poured in to pots , which is covered and buried under ground for some months == Crystalline sugar candy forms. It has medicinal properties and used against cough and pulmonary infection.
• Jaggary : Jaggary of palmyra is sweet, delicious and superior to cane jaggary. Palmyra palm jaggery (gur) is much more nutritious than crude cane sugar, containing 1.04% protein, 0.19% fat, 76.86% sucrose, 1.66% glucose, 3.15% total minerals, 0.861 % calcium, 0.052% phosphorus; also 11.01 mg iron per 100 g and 0.767 mg of copper per 100 g. The fresh sap is reportedly a good source of vitamin B complex.
• sugar,
• vinegar,
• palm-wine,

Medicine
Briefly, the young plant is said to relieve biliousness, dysentery, and gonorrhea. Young roots are diuretic and anthelmintic, and a decoction is given in certain respiratory diseases.
Sap from the flower stalk is prized as a tonic, diuretic, stimulant, laxative and anti phlegmatic and amebicide. Sugar made from this sap is said to counteract poisoning, and it is prescribed in liver disorders and wood. The black timber is hard, heavy, and durable and is highly valued for construction. Leaves are used for thatching, umbrellas, fans, diaper (napkin/ small towel) articles, hats etc and their
Palmyra fibres : for baskets, brushes, and brooms : Palmyra fibers has a great export potential and is exported to over 30 countries. The stalks are used to make fences and also produce a strong, wiry fiber suitable for cordage and brushes