PROS & CONS OF STEVIA CULTIVATION IN INDIA
Stevia is a plant that is native to Central Americas – the indigenous population in that region have been cultivating and consuming Stevia as a sweetener for over 1500 years.
There are over 200 varieties of Stevia that are being cultivated at present worldwide with China in the lead followed by large scale cultivation in Africa.
Most of the varieties of Stevia plants have very low Stevioside content as well as Rebaudioside A content (this is the Glycoside in demand for the industry as it is over 250 times sweeter that Cane Sugar and also has very little after taste)
It has to be understood that all varieties of Stevia plant will not grow at all places (Geography, Topography, Land Types play an important role here)
There has been several attempts to grow this plant at many places in India – unfortunately, the success rates have been minimal – mostly due to incorrect assessment of plant variety selected by the farmers; it has to be understood that mere purchase of saplings and planting them in the farmland will, in most cases, be a disaster, as has happened across India
For commercial extraction of Steviosides from the stevia leaves, it is of utmost importance that the leaves are rich in Total Stevioside content (min. 12%), of which Rebaudioside A needs to be min. 50% .
Stevia leaves commercial value is decided on the basis of Stevioside % in the leaves
The fundamental approach for successful farming of Stevia is to “try a number of varieties of stevia seeds in a controlled atmosphere ( polyhouse ), before venturing into commercial farming”
COMMERCIAL STEVIA CULTIVATION IN A NUTSHELL
Min . farm land required for commercial Stevia cultivation : 10 Ha ( 25 acres )
Life cycle of Stevia plant : 3-4 yrs
First harvest 90-100 days after transplanting in june –july , subsequent harvest in every 60-75 days .
Average fresh biomass yield : 25-30 MT/ Ha / yr
Approx Stevia dry leaves yield ( 3 harvest cycle in a year ) : 4-5 MT / Ha / yr
Dry Leaves commercial market value @ Rs 100-120/ kg : 4-5 lac / Ha/ yr
Tentative initial cultivation cost :1.5-2.0 lac / ha/ yr
Yearly replenishment amount : 20%
Nursery development and on farm trial expanses :
500 sq. ft. Polyhouse for nursery development : 1.5-2.0 lac
10-12 selected varieties of stevia seed procurement and on farm trial : 50-60 K
( There are 20-22 varieties of Stevia for different agro climatic conditions )
Stevia cultivation is bankable project under NABARD , MSME , NHB , START-UP INDIA,Venture Funding
For any query please contact : bhcv@ymail.com
Stevia is a plant that is native to Central Americas – the indigenous population in that region have been cultivating and consuming Stevia as a sweetener for over 1500 years.
There are over 200 varieties of Stevia that are being cultivated at present worldwide with China in the lead followed by large scale cultivation in Africa.
Most of the varieties of Stevia plants have very low Stevioside content as well as Rebaudioside A content (this is the Glycoside in demand for the industry as it is over 250 times sweeter that Cane Sugar and also has very little after taste)
It has to be understood that all varieties of Stevia plant will not grow at all places (Geography, Topography, Land Types play an important role here)
There has been several attempts to grow this plant at many places in India – unfortunately, the success rates have been minimal – mostly due to incorrect assessment of plant variety selected by the farmers; it has to be understood that mere purchase of saplings and planting them in the farmland will, in most cases, be a disaster, as has happened across India
For commercial extraction of Steviosides from the stevia leaves, it is of utmost importance that the leaves are rich in Total Stevioside content (min. 12%), of which Rebaudioside A needs to be min. 50% .
Stevia leaves commercial value is decided on the basis of Stevioside % in the leaves
The fundamental approach for successful farming of Stevia is to “try a number of varieties of stevia seeds in a controlled atmosphere ( polyhouse ), before venturing into commercial farming”
COMMERCIAL STEVIA CULTIVATION IN A NUTSHELL
Min . farm land required for commercial Stevia cultivation : 10 Ha ( 25 acres )
Life cycle of Stevia plant : 3-4 yrs
First harvest 90-100 days after transplanting in june –july , subsequent harvest in every 60-75 days .
Average fresh biomass yield : 25-30 MT/ Ha / yr
Approx Stevia dry leaves yield ( 3 harvest cycle in a year ) : 4-5 MT / Ha / yr
Dry Leaves commercial market value @ Rs 100-120/ kg : 4-5 lac / Ha/ yr
Tentative initial cultivation cost :1.5-2.0 lac / ha/ yr
Yearly replenishment amount : 20%
Nursery development and on farm trial expanses :
500 sq. ft. Polyhouse for nursery development : 1.5-2.0 lac
10-12 selected varieties of stevia seed procurement and on farm trial : 50-60 K
( There are 20-22 varieties of Stevia for different agro climatic conditions )
Stevia cultivation is bankable project under NABARD , MSME , NHB , START-UP INDIA,Venture Funding
For any query please contact : bhcv@ymail.com
Last edited: