The potential medicinal crop Aloe vera: The need to search new uses and to establish processing units in India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

The natives and traditional healers of Aloe growing areas in different parts of the world are well aware of its medicinal uses and properties since time immemorial. Although Aloe is not a native to India, but in reference literatures related to different systems of medicine in India it holds a reputed position. The increasing demand, new uses and latest research findings motivated the traditional farmers of India, to start its commercial cultivation in large scale. In past few years, the area under Aloe crop has increased many folds. The farmers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra states have taken keen interest in its plantation. Unfortunately, most of the farmers adopted chemical farming instead of organic farming of Aloe. As result, the production increased many folds. The increasing demand has motivated the farmers but not the entrepreneurs interested in establishment of processing units.

This imbalance in development resulted in saturation in Aloe farming. Now the farmers of these states are getting worry due to over production and millions of Aloe plants are going waste. The hardy Aloe has captured the farmer's fields and due to non-availability of market, now they are planning to destroy the standing crop. This is bitter fact that the most of farmers are poor farmers having no access to international markets. Every day I receive many phone calls from these farmers to help them in search of market for their crop produce. The frustrated voice of these farmers motivated me to write a separate article on this important medicinal crop. I am thankful to Botanical.com for giving me the forum to address the poor Aloe farmers. Since generations, the housewife at Chhattisgarh are using Aloe as home remedy for burns, cuts and wounds. This use is common in other parts of the world. The Rajasthani community of Chhattisgarh prepare a special dish using the Gel of Aloe. This dish is very popular in other communities also. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use both fresh and dry Aloe herb in treatment of many common and complicated diseases. As it is hard to get Aloe in wild, the traditional healers were planting this herb in their home gardens in early days. Now the increasing Aloe cultivation has solved their problem and they are purchasing the herb of cultivated origin for their routine treatment. For the organic growers specially the growers engaged in organic cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops, the Aloe herb is a boon. They are using the different parts as natural pesticide. It is added in different herbal formulations used to repel away the harmful insects. It is one of the promising herb having the unique capacity to repel away the Deemak (Termites). In rat infested fields, the farmers plant this herb to attract the snakes. The presence of snakes plays an important role in rat management. As it is perennial crop, the farmers, in general, do not engage their main crop fields for its commercial cultivation. They plant it in periphery of farms. Many times it act as live fence to stop the entry of cattle in main fields. Its presence in boundaries enhances the beauty of farms also. In area having the problem of soil erosion, the natives plant Aloe plant. It requires less care as well as irrigation. Its fast spread helps a lot in soil binding. In Dhaba (Hotels for truck drivers and transporters), the use of Aloe juice is increasing among travellers in order to get sound health and to develop resistance in body. These local uses have made the commercial cultivation of Aloe profitable. This is the reason the Aloe farmers of Chhattisgarh are not in trouble, like the farmers of other states. This is positive sign that state government officials are also promoting its cultivation and awaring the common people about is various utilities. In my previous articles, I have mentioned the traditional medicinal knowledge about Aloe in Chhattisgarh.

According to reference literatures and information available on net, in international markets different preparations from Aloe are having good demand. These preparations are Aloe gel, Aloin, Aloes powder and Compound benzoin tincture. Unfortunately, the information on the methods to prepare these different products is not available with the farmers. Many innovative herb growers of Punjab have tried indigenous method to prepare Aloe gel but they got little success, not sufficient to sell the produce at international markets. Many farmers particularly the rich farmers are eager to establish the advanced processing unit to consume the production at their own fields but the high cost of establishing processing unit is discouraging them. One of their reasons for worry is, what will happen if after this huge investment, the buyers refuse to buy the products. They are very true. Aloe is not native to India has no monopoly over its marketing like Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum). The Indian manufactures have to compete with the International manufactures and adopting the indigenous system of manufacturing it is nearly impossible task. The use of Aloe in cosmetic and indigenous drug companies have increased in India since last decades. But this use has nothing to do with the cultivation. Most of the companies are growing this herb in their plantations and others are dependent on old sources. Although Aloe is not indigenous to India but considering its over-exploitation in natural habitat, as serious situation, the officials have put ban on its export from India. Recently, I got information from Dr. Subrata De that now the government is thinking again on this important aspect. This is really sad the researchers and research organizations working in the field of Indian medicinal and aromatic plants are not coming forward to help the Aloe farmers of India. The situation is becoming worse day by day. Through this article, I would like to request the international buyers searching the Aloe herb to help these farmers in order to market their produces. Through my lectures and articles, I am motivating the rich entrepreneurs to establish advanced processing units for Aloe processing. As expert, I am aware of this technology and eager to guide the interested entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs of Nasik and Bangalore have contacted me and now we are planning to establish the advanced units. Unfortunately these proposed units can not give relief to the Aloe farmers because the owners have Aloe herb in over 100 acres of crop lands. Such efforts are needed from government side to provide relief to herb growers. I personally feel that National Medicinal Plants Board can play an important role in this direction. Through this article, I would like to suggest the planners to promote and adopt 'Chhattisgarh Model' to understand the Aloe farming, where the local needs are enough to provide the markets to the farmers and they have not to wait for advanced processing units. One more important thing is that the Chhattisgarh farmers are now showing interest in crop diversification and I am aware, that crop diversification will never result in over production of single species in future, like Aloe.

Thank you very much for reading the article.