Curry leaf is used in every kitchen. Is growing it commercially profitable and where do I sell the leaves in bulk?
3 Answers
Commercial curry leaf, or kadi patta, can be a steady crop because demand is genuine and year round from households, vegetable mandis, hotels, the spice and curry powder industry, and the dried leaf and oleoresin trade including some export. It is a hardy perennial that grows for many years, giving repeated leaf harvests, so once established the input cost per harvest is low. The fresh leaf market is through vegetable mandis and traders, while dried leaf and oleoresin go to processors. Fresh leaf prices vary by season and local supply, so confirm your selling channel before scaling. It is far less of a scam prone crop than the buyback medicinal crops, but you still need to know your market, fresh local mandi versus dried processor, and the realistic price. Verify your buyer channel and price locally before planting a large area.
Fresh leaf I sell through the vegetable market and to spice traders. Demand is steady all year, that is the good part. Rates dip when supply is high.
Once the plants establish they keep giving for years with little cost. Decide early if you sell fresh leaf locally or dried to processors, the handling differs.