[seetharam annadana]

STEVIA HAS BEEN TAKING THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESS FOR SURE.

NO MATTER HOW YOU MULTIPLY THE PLANT,
NO MATTER HOW MUCH CARE YOU TAKE OF IT,
ONE CANNOT MODIFY OR UNDERESTIMATE THE BOTANY OF A PLANT.

Stevia is a short day plant. It prefers short days for flower induction. This is not what we need commercially. What we need is long day conditions to keep the plant in a continous vegetative phase, as leaf is the commercial material. Under natural conditions it is impossible to have long day conditions all 365 days of the year. You are bound to have 120-150 days of cloudy or short day periods in a year, resulting in floweing and reduced stevioside in the leaves.

Such being the case how does one trade leaf with a assured level of stevioside. Yes it is possible to produce 6-8% stevioside all year round. Buyer wants 10-12% stevioside: In such cases only long day crop batch has to be supplied and we have to get rid of short day material.

With so much of confusing data, buyers claiming orders awaiting in tons, i am not seeing a great movement of leaf for trade. Rumours are that China sells leaf at Rs. 60 and stevioside at Rs. 750 in Mumbai.

Under such confusing situtations, i do not see a very good prospect for leaf trade. This does not mean there is no prospect for stevia. THERE IS PROSPECT FOR STEVIA ONLY IF YOU PROCESS AND MAKE VALUE ADDITION AND NOT AS RAW MATERIAL.

Regards