Potential markets of wonder crop Safed Musli (Chorophytum borivilianum) : Some new observations

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

'Our Japanese company is interested in processed powder organic Safed Musli. We want to start dealing with small quantity and gradually increase the quantity. In Japan, if one wants to sell any imported item, which human being consume, needs to submit the govt. dept. and test for non-toxicity for safe use. And fees for such testing is around value of Indian rupees Rs. 3 to 5 lakhs. Our company will do all the necessary formalities before starting selling Musli, can you send the informations regarding potential supplier?' This is one message out of many messages I am receving from different parts of the globe in response to my research articles at Botanical.com on wonder crop Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum). The whole world is taking keen interest in this new potential crop and they are appreciating the efforts and initiatives taken by the innovative herb growers of India. The eagerness of multinational companies to know more about this wonder crop is good news for the Indian growers. Now the time is coming to reap maximum profit through this medicinal crop. This is the brighter side of this news. And the darker side of the news is surprising and shocking. In response to these inquiring messages, I contacted over 50 herb growers and many more traders engaged in Safed Musli business. Unfortunately, no one is ready to supply initially the samples and later, the tubers in bulk quantities. The traders have the mixture of different species. Most of the samples are not from the matured Musli herbs in wild. It is collected at green stage as common practice with wild Musli species. It is very difficult to get the dry Musli with traders true to the species. the companies are asking for Chlorophytum boriviluanism but the samples are available of C. tuberosum, C. arundinaceum, C. attenuatum etc. these species are less in Saponin content. As you know, Saponin is the responsible natural chemical for the medicinal properties of Safed Musli. In India where the advanced laboratories are less in number, the common buyers can be cheated easily by supplying inferior produce in the name of Chlorophytum borivilianum, but it is impossible to supply poor material to the buyers at international levels. I also contacted many growers engaged in cultivation of true species. But they also failed to supply the dry Musli because there is a huge demand of wet roots used as planting material in domestic markets. The new farmers are eager to purchase the wet material at any cost. This is the reason, no one in showing the willingness to dry the Safed Musli tubers and to take the headache of its peeling. Many growers gave me that sample of dry Musli but when I tested it with the help of advanced laboratories at Metros, surprisingly, all samples are from chemically grown Musli crops. In many samples, we found more residues of pesticides than the vegetable crops in which the growers use pesticides indiscriminately. I always give the example of Musli growers of Chhattisgarh, adopting the organic cultivation of this medicinal crop. Although the organic inputs decrease the yield but from quality point of view it is far superior from chemically grown produce. On this wonder crop, I have written over 20 articles and in all articles, I gave emphasis on organic cultivation but practically on farmers fields when I see the use of heavy doses of pesticides, I become depressed to think about the future of Safed Musli in India.

In recent experiments, to evaluate the stimulatory Allelopathic effects of common weeds on Safed Musli growth, we have found the aqueous extract of whole herb of common weed Kaua-Kaini (Commelina benghalensis) very promising in order to increase the vigour of Safed Musli crop. This year due to heavy rainfall, the Safed Musli crop grown without treatment is looking less vigorous but the Kauka-kaini treated tubers are still vigorous and leaves are engaged in active photosynthesis. The aqueous extract of Kauka-Kaini can be used as tuber treatment. We have found that soaking of tubers prior to sowing in this extracts is very promising. As Kaua-Kaini is a common weed, its availability is not a problem and also it is very cheap. Kaua-Kaini is found in almost all parts of India. Our experiments are at final stage. We are expecting that from next season it will come in general recommendation for organic cultivation of Safed Musli. I personally feel that such experiments are needed in different parts of India so that the farmers interested in organic cultivation can be guided well. I will write more about this in coming articles.

Thank you very much for reading the article.