Aloe vera farming in India - Cost, Market Trends and Profits

Do we often confuse greenery with gallons of water requirements, lush and dense foliage, leaves and flowers that decorate the ambience by mere existence ? Do you know what a succulent is ? Succulents are botanical species for dry and drought prone climates whose unusually fleshy aerial parts store water (they have water storing tissues) & this is their cheat code to survive in such climatic conditions.

Aloe vera is one such succulent. For efforts made to grow this succulent, reciprocating benefits are huge. All you need to know about aloe vera farming in India is its growing habit and growth requirements and the rest is its job to perform miracles for you health, your farms and your wallets.

Why Aloe Vera ??

Aloe vera farming in India unlike imagined is one of the most remunerative farming because of its hassle free maintenance, high market demand & benefits that are Aloe specific. Water scarcity isn’t a limiting factor to its growth and therefore it has a great potential to provide agriculture market growth in regions whose flora diversity isn’t enough for agri income.

A healing friend:-

Health and Aloe have a famous love affair for ages. “Aloin” (Aloin A, Aloin B), a collective name for a group of glycosides & a component of aloe latex present in aloe vera is a magic wand to swirl around. Let’s surprise you with the miraculous “Aloin’s” properties and potential. Anti microbial, anti parasitic, laxative, anti inflammatory, anti osteoporotic and many neurological properties are found in “Aloin”. It has shown its effects in relaxation from neuropathic pains. It has also been observed as a shield against UV rays and therefore many people traditionally use it as a sunscreen. In pharmaceutical industries, the health benefits of aloin other than discussed like relief from oral diseases, internal and external wounds can be exploited which escalates its market demand and scope for aloe vera farming in India if grown strategically.

Demand in market

Beauty Industry

It is a fabulous oil control and moisturising agent. Better penetration of aloe vera gel helps it cross the epidermal layer of skin and deepens the nourishment process. Sebum control property stops extra oil leakage and doesn’t clog pores. Do you know aloe vera heals your scalp as well ? If you’ve a dandruff prone scalp, try using its miraculous gel on your scalp an hour before you wash your hair and you’ll see the difference. It has also proven to be beneficial for pimples, just apply a dot of its gel over your pimples and they’ll disappear. Antioxidants in it pace down the aging process.

Health Industry

Aloe vera juice is a gut friendly drink, useful in curing constipation, acidity and other stomach problems. Not only is it confined to health but is also beneficial in maintaining blood sugar levels. Its antibacterial and antiseptic properties make it an excellent ointment as well. An oral fungal infection caused by Candida albicans is said to be treated by aloe vera by many studies conducted.

Insect Repellent

There are stories of many farmers who grew aloe vera on vacant spaces at their farms, orchards and it kept those spaces out of the reach of insect-pests. Many studies prove it to be a mosquito larvicidal which is why you will find it in many mosquito repellent items. Agricultural waste material and its utilisation has now become an important field of analysis for farmers and scientists associated with the cultivation and studies of any crop. Aloe has been a crop that doesn’t stop giving out. Its peels which are usually considered as waste products actually have biochemical components like octacosanol, quillaic acid which work as insect repellent, they can be dried and used in powdered form or can be mixed with a suitable solvent. One of the requirements for profit gain in the market is squeezing till the last drop and value addition. If we understand the right potential of waste management, Aloe vera farming in India is not so far from being a booming sector.

How to propagate Aloe vera ?

With the help of leaf cuttings, offsets, division and seed propagation methods, aloe vera can be propagated. Leaf cutting is a simple propagation method for beginners requiring patience. If you’re going for propagation with the help of offsets, then you’ll need a mature plant and remove the offset from the base with few attached roots and let them develop callus after leaving dry for a few days, then finally plant those offsets. If you’re going for seed propagation, then you may buy it directly from the market or collect it from an aloe plant and directly put it on suitable soil and cover it. Seed rate of aloe vera is 250-300 grams per hectare.

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What’s the cost of Aloe vera farming in India

Aloe vera is a low maintenance crop, so if the input cost is your worry, you must stop overthinking. One time aloe plantation can give healthy yield upto 3-4 years.

Estimated cost of Aloe vera farming is Rs. 50,000- 55,000 per hectare. Main areas which take up the investment are field preparation, seeds/propagation material, irrigation, fertilizers, labours, machines etc.

Financial aid by the government has made it easy to solve the input/cost issues through various schemes and projects made specifically for certain classes of plants under which “Ghritkumari”/ Aloe vera fall like National Mission on Medicinal Plants (NMMP), benefitting Self help groups, farmers and other classes cultivating aloe.

National Ayush mission is another government initiative which provides subsidies for medicinal plants’ cultivation & under this scheme, aloe vera gets 30% subsidy with T&C applied.

How profitable is Aloe farming ??

There is a difference between the yield of irrigated and non irrigated aloe vera crop, the former is more. Irrigated crop yield in India is 30-35 ton per hectare whereas the other one is 15-20 ton per hectare. Because this crop can grow offsets, its profitability index becomes high as they can be replanted and cherry on the top is its minimal growth requirements. And they’re not only sold to industries or grown just on farms but home gardeners are also fond of this plant, so if you’re a nursery owner you’ve got an additional easy going source of income. Many farmers grow it for various industries at predetermined prices and work for the desired quality and yield by those firms, this is what we call “contract farming” e.g, Patanjali, Boro plus etc. are some brands whose maximum products are Aloe based, their manufacturing unit requires tons of aloe vera per day and their requirements are fulfilled through contract farming.

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Hydroponic Mushrooms – Amazing Soilless Mushroom Cultivation

Conclusion :-

Analysing the trends, we see the inclination of people towards organic and non chemical alternatives which is why Aloe is on the demand list of the modern world. If not raw aloe vera leaves, then Aloe products like gel, Aloe based cosmetics, juices etc. are always in sight at any household you see. There are farmers who through aloe vera farming in India have proven that deviating from the same traditional crops to try this wonder crop for income generation is worth the risk. Undoubtedly this crop is proof that deserts aren’t complete barrenlands. It answers the question of sustainability as well, a crop that gives out every part of it for utilisation and lowering the requirements of synthetic treatments for pests, insects etc. must be given a chance.

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