1.0 Product and its applications

Danti (Baliospermum montanum) is an important medicinal plant. The plant is known in Hindi & Punjabi as Danti, Hakum, Hakun; in Sanskrit & Marathi as Danti; in Gujarati as Dantimul, Jamalghota; in Kannada as Kaduharalu; in Malayalam as Nagandanti, Dimti; in Tamil as Nakatanti, Kattamanakku; in Telugu as Adaviamudamu, Kondaamudamu; in Assamese as Phul-jelang; in U.P. & M.P. as Jangli jamalghota and in English as Red Physic Nut.

Root, seed, leaf and seed oil are used to treat jaundice, constipation, piles, anaemia and conjunctivitis. The root is acrid, thermogenic, purgative, anti-inflammatory, anodyne, digestive, diuretic, diaphoretic, febrifuge, tonic, anthelmintic, carminative, rubefacient and anodyne. It is used in abdominal pain, constipation, general anasarca, piles, helminthic infestation, scabies and skin disorders. Root paste is applied to painful swellings and piles. The leaves are good for asthma and bronchitis. The seeds are drastic purgative, rubefacient, hydragogue and stimulant, and are useful in vitlated conditions of vata, inflammations and flatulence.

Root yields five new phorbol'ysters belonging to diterpene hydiocarbo, tigliane skeleton viz. inontain, balliospermin etc. Leaves contain b-stiosterol, B D-glucoside and hexacosanol.

2.0 Market Potential

Importers, exporters, buyers, processors, traditional practitioners, Ayurvedic and Siddha drug manufacturers throng the markets for procurement of this plant every year. Its domestic as well as export demands are quite large.

3.0 Basis and Presumption

a) The agricultural land and related infrastructure is available with the entrepreneur.
b) Prices are calculated as per the prevailing market rates.
c) The yields depend on proper implementation of package of practices.
d) Economics of cultivation greatly improves on scale of operation.
e) This activity provides tax-free high returns. Additionally a number of government support schemes are available. Latest provisions need to be checked up.
f) Market for medicinal plants is volatile and economics may vary from time to time

4.0 Agri practices

Danti is a stout under shrub, 10 cm to 8 m in height with herbaceous branches from the roots. Leaves are simple, toothed with undulations. Upper leaves are small, lower ones large, sometimes palmately 3-5 lobed, 3-30 cm long, and 1.5-15 cm broad. Male and female flowers are separated, seen in the same flowering branch, minute, about 3 mm across, greenish yellow, arranged in axillaries and terminal racemes, spikes or fascicles. Capsules are distinctly 3-lobed, obovoid, stony, 8-13 mm across, minutely densely pubescent. Seeds are egg-shaped.

4.1 Soil & Climate

Danti thrives well in shady regions.

4.2 Land Preparation

Land is prepared by ploughing, harrowing and levelling.

4.3 Propagation

The plant can be propagated through seeds as well as stem cuttings. The seeds are sown in beds of size 3m x 1.2m x 0.3m at a distance of 15 cm and covered with sand and watered regularly. Germination commences from sixth day onwards and is complete in twelve days. Average germination rate is around 50%. Vegetative propagation is done through semi mature stem cuttings about 15cm long with nodes. These cuttings are planted either in polythene bags or on raised beds. On average 60% sprouting is obtained. Pre-treatments greatly improve the sprouting (90-100%). The seedlings are transplanted after the plant has reached 5-8 cm height. The saplings are transplanted after one month, into 45 x 45 x 45 cm pits at a spacing of 3 m.

4.4 Fertilizer

FYM is mixed well with the soil. Addition of ammonium sulphate @ 0.15-0.2 t per ha is beneficial for the growth. Nitrogen is applied in two split doses 60 days and 120 days after sowing. Application of these fertilizers should be 10 cm away from the plants.

4.5 Irrigation

Soon after sowing the field is irrigated at 3-4 days interval and later the frequency is reduced to 8-10 days.

4.6 Weed control

Hoeing is recommended after rains. Thinning is done in order to remove the extra seedlings and leaving only one healthy plant.

4.7 Pest control

It is a hardy plant and no serious pest infestation is reported.

4.8 Harvesting

Two year old plants are uprooted and the roots are cleaned.

5.1 Drying

The roots dried and packed.

6.0 Yield

On average yield is 25,000 plants per ha, each plant generating 0.5kg dry root.

7.0 Economics of cultivation per hectare land

Crop duration = 24 months
Average cost of cultivation per ha = Rs.1, 35,000
Average returns 12,500 kg roots per ha @ Rs. 22/kg = 2, 75,000
Net returns per ha = 1, 40,000

8.0 Addresses of some dealers in medicinal plants/ planting material

a. Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine,
Canal Road,
Jammu Tawi-180001

b. High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Centre,
HNB Garhwal University,
Shrinagar, Garhwal-246174

c. Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology,
Post Office Box No.6,
Palampur-176 061

d. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,
Near Kukrail Picnic Spot,
Lucknow-226015

e. North east Institute of Science & Technology,
Jorhat-785006 (Assam)

f. National Botanical Research Institute,
Rana Pratap Marg,
Lucknow-226001

g. Institute of Minerals & Materials technology,
Bhubaneswar-751013

h. Advanced Materials & Processes Research Institute,
Hoshangabad Road, Near Habibganj Naka,
Bhopal-462064

i. Forest Research Institute (ICFRE)
Dehradun-248006

j. NBPGR,
Pusa Campus,
New Delhi-110012

k. NBPGR, Regional Station,
Bhowali-263132
District Nainital

l. NBPGR, Regional Station,
Phagli,
Shimla-171004

m. Cedmap,
60, Jail Road, Jahangirabad,
Bhopal (M.P.)

n. Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute,
Karimancode, P.O. Palode,
Thiruvananthapuram-695562 (Kerala)

o. KRD Musli Farm,10/47, Station Road, Rau,
Indore-453331 (M.P.)

p. Mittal Musli Farm and Research Centre,
Jamod, Jalgaon (Maharashtra)

q. Jeevan Herbs & Agro Farms
178,Keshav Ganj, Sagar (M.P.)

r. SSS Biotic.com
C/o biosourcing.com (P)Ltd.
A-41, Janpath, Ashoknagar
Bhubaneswar (Orissa)

s. Kasiraj Exports,
37, Santhai Road,
Tuticorin (TN)

t. A.Y. Agritec Private Limited
16-7-382/18, Azampura Masjid,
Hyderabad (A.P.)

u. Raj and Company
Contact: Mr. Vijay Kumar Jain
Behind Katju Market Near Parsi Mandir,
Neemuch 458441
Tel: 07423-221600;
Fax: 07423-225341
E-mail: rajspice@bom4.vsnl.net.in

v. Manvir Pharma Supply
E-2, P&T Colony 6, Patel Colony, Jamnagar
Tel: 0288-2750015;
Fax: 0288-2750015

w. Suman Trading Co.
10-2-32/1, Pamuvari Street Ramaraopet, Kakinada 533004

x. Silpa Agro Farms Private Limited
Flat No. 204, 2nd Floor, Firdous Kaveri Court, T
aranaka Road, Metuguda
Secundrabad 500017
Tel: 27820291/08451-288319
E-mail: silpaagro@onebox.com

y. Atulya Herbs
Rajiv Juyal Road, Majra,
Dehradun 248 171
Tel: +91 135 2620488;
Fax: +91 135 3124102
E-mail: asian@nde.vsnl.net.in; paritoshgulati@yahoo.com; drmadanlal@sancharnet.in Website: http://rajugulati.ebigchina.com

z. VEG Trading Company
106/12, Prakasam Street, Erode 638 001
Tel: +91 424 2223846;
Fax: +91 424 2218041
E-mail: vegnet@tasteefoods.com

Contact for more information:

Information Manager
TIMEIS Project
E-mail: timeis@ficci.com