Home / Environment / Farmers Revive Endangered Kutki in Himalayas
Farmers Revive Endangered Kutki in Himalayas
23 Jul
Summary
- Sustainable harvesting of Kutki's stolons protects mother plants.
- 180 farmers now cultivate this endangered medicinal herb.
- Annual earnings of ₹15,000-₹16,000 per farmer reported.
In the higher reaches of the Himalayas, an agricultural initiative is helping bring the prized medicinal plant Picrorhiza kurroa, or Kutki, back from the brink of extinction. Decades of destructive harvesting had pushed Kutki onto the IUCN Red List. Researchers developed a sustainable cultivation model, now adopted by farmers in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district.
This innovative approach involves harvesting only the plant's side stolons, preserving the mother plant for continuous production. What began as a research project has grown into the largest private-land cultivation cluster for Kutki, spanning nearly 180 farmers. This initiative boosts the rural mountain economy significantly.
Farmers like Narad Ram and Tek Chand are now earning between ₹15,000 and ₹16,000 annually by selling dried Kutki, primarily its stolons, through a farmers' producer company. This method ensures the plant's perennial viability. Plans are also underway to market the produce via digital platforms, potentially increasing farmer profits by eliminating intermediaries.
