MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Varieties

ALFT-2
The Gujarat Agricultural University, under the All India Co-ordinated project on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants at Anand, has released a late flowering type ‘ALFT-2’ through selection, which remains in vegetative stage till 100 days and is suitable for growing as leaf crop.

Sona
CIMAP, Lucknow has released a high yielding variety named ‘Sona’.

KKM Sel 1
It is a selection from Thenkalam local, high yielding recording 38.5 per cent higher leaf yield and 69.88 per cent higher pod yield than local. This is highly suited for all soils of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts and ideal for rainfed cultivation. The plants are spreading and bushy with 7-8 branches attaining a height of 80-100 cm. The plant has good rejuvenation capacity and suitable for stripping at an interval of 30 days with crop duration of 135-140 days. It yields 918 kg/ha of leaves and 352 kg/ha of pods. The total sennoside content is 2.54 per cent. The dried leaves and pods have good export potential and the medicinal property is utilized in the preparation of laxatives.