Shatavari Farming, Contract Farming, A Comprehensive Guide

Shatavari Farming, Contract Farming, Profit- A Comprehensive Guide: Botanically known as Asparagus racemosus a herb of the asparagus family. Is not just any herb; it’s a gift from Mother Nature herself. Though shatavari is native to the African subcontinent it is found in the southern parts of Asia like Nepal and India.

Shatawari is also an old-age herb and has its own medicinal benefits. Earlier this herb was collected from the forests and due to its huge demand and great medicinal value, it has been exploited without maintaining sustainability.

Section I: Understanding Shatavari Farming

• There are two different types of shatavari, one is white colored and the other one is found in yellow color. The medicinal benefits of these two have not much difference but the combination of both gives full spectrum benefit.
• The price value of yellow shatavari is much higher than white one. Yellow shatavari is mostly found in the upper parts of the Himalayas and Nepal white shatawari is commonly found in southern parts of Asia, Africa, Sri Lanka, and some parts of Australia.
• The sustainability of these herbs has become very crucial and important at this point in time and so it has been declared as an endangered species in its natural vegetation.
• To maintain sustainability one should harvest the natural resources ( biotic )to a minimum quantity and leave the fruits, seeds, flowers, or regenerating parts of the particular plant there itself and allow regeneration.

Section II Contract Farming: The Indian Connection

• Due to its high demand and medicinal value, this herb is used widely in the ayurvedic industries, Pharma industries, and also in animal feed for various benefits.
• In India is found to be cultivated in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, parts of Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and some parts of Karnataka. Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh being the largest producers of Shatavari contribute the main source and are able to meet the requirements of the Indian market.
• Many new companies having requirements of shatavari for contract farming like The Himalaya Wellness, Dabur, Patanjali, Botanical Health Care, and many more are opting for contract farming by providing all the inputs starting from seeds to packing material to keep the harvested stock.

Section III: Shatavari Farming Cultivation Practices

• The cultivation of Shatavari is done in two ways. One is through broadcasting and the other way is through sowing in rows. Usually, Shatavari is cultivated by using rootstock as a regenerative or propagative part and also by using seeds.
• Seeds of shatavari resemble the Black peppers fruits in size and shape and a little difference is found in these two.
• Shatawari is grown in Black soil where the PH is found in the range of 6-8.  Seeds are sown in broad ridges of measuring 40-45 cm and 15 -20 cm space is maintained between the ridges for smooth irrigation.
• While showing the seeds 10 cm gap is to be maintained between each seed. As the roots grow in deep and spread in a radius of 15 to 20 cm help in reducing the pressure beneath the soil band and help in growing luxuriously producing more root stocks and yielding.
• The seed rate for an acre of land is around 2.5 kg to 3 kg in the row sowing method and 4 to 5 kg in the broadcasting method.
• The water requirement of these herbs is very low and they can withstand the stress and water scarcity without compromising the promised yield.
• Usually, a crop takes 8 to 10 months to grow fully and store abundant Starch in the rootstocks. To grow fully and mature roots it takes around 10 to 12 months to give quality yield as per market requirements. 

Section IV: Cost of cultivation and returns per acre of Shatavari farming: Contract Farming

Cost of cultivation and returns per acre

	Amount per Acre
Seed price/ Cost	1,300- 1,500 Rs/kg (2.5 to 3kg)
Land preparation	5,000 Rs per acre
Weeding cost	10,000 Rs per acre
Fertilizers and chemicals	10,000 Rs per acre
Harvesting and processing cost	30,000 to 35,000 Rs per acre
Overall Cost of cultivation	56,300 to 61,500 Rs per acre

•  Yield per acre – 800 to 1000 kg after drying. Usually, 1:10 is the recovery yield recorded after drying. 
• Considering the approx. calculation given above we can estimate the returns from one acre of shatavari cultivation. Keeping market demand and supply as variable parameters and considering Rs 250 /kg as the usual price of dried shatavari one can draw the outcome or final net income easily as given below.

The average profit potential of Shatavari from a one-acre land

Gross profit	250 Rs per kg X 1000 kg	2,50,000 Rs per acre
Cost of cultivation		61,500 Rs per acre

2,50,000-61,500 Rs= 1,88,500 Rs Per acre profit

Note: The above calculations are taken for rough calculation and may vary geographically and as per market price at any given point in time.

MARKET PRICE

• The Price of white shatawari during the season ranges from INR 250 – 350/kg and depending on the quality of the material price may vary. Whereas the market price for yellow Shatavari is as high as INR 450 – 550 depending on the quality.
• As discussed earlier price for yellow Shatavari is always higher than white and the demand for yellow Shatavari is also higher in pharmaceutical industries. Shatavari has a high export demand across the globe and increasing every year. 

Also Check: Ashwagandha Cultivation Project Report, contract farming

Section V: A few important benefits of Shatavari

• Hormonal balance – Specially among women this herb is used widely as it improves hormonal balance. Feeding women use this herb as it helps increase milk production, as mentioned in the WebMD health care. During the monthly biological Cycles (periods) women suffer a lot of pain, this herb is used as pain relief but as we know Ayurveda medicine proves its results over a period of time if taken on a regular basis.
• Boost immunity – though it has been used over the decades for improving immunity, during the COVID period people have come across the benefits of Shatavari and then onwards usage of this herb has increased as an immunity booster.
• Ulcer curing– Shatavari powder treats gastric ulcers and may prevent future ulcers forming.
• Antioxidant property – Shatavari has shown great anti-oxidant properties and may help in treating skin-related issues.

Section VI: Shatavari Harvesting and Processing

• Once the plant matures and root stock is abundant it is uprooted with proper care so that roots do not remain under the soil. Roots are the main economical part separated from the vegetative part (aerial part).
• The aerial part of Shatavari has its own marker value and demand and it can be chopped and dried well until the moisture level reaches Not More Than (NMT) 10 % as it is market standard.
• The roots separated from the aerial part are then washed to Remove soil and mud particles. Once the washing is over the long roots are boiled and peeling is carried out( Peeling- removing the skin of roots like the peeling of a potato) then long roots are copped at 4 -5 cm length which helps in proper drying, storing, and eases the transportation process.
• The drying process is usually done under direct sunlight to fasten the process till the moisture level reaches NMT 10%.
•  Once the moisture level is obtained to its standard level the rootstocks are packed in new PP bags to preserve the quality and increase shelf life. 

FAQ