Considering aloe vera on dryland. Want planting, low water needs and buyer information.
How to start aloe vera farming and where can I sell the produce?
BBhanwar Lal1yr ago · 367 views
5 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓12mo ago
Aloe vera suits dry, low water areas like Rajasthan because it is hardy, drought tolerant and grows on poor soils where many crops fail. Plant pups or suckers of an improved gel rich variety at spacing that gives several thousand plants per acre, on well drained soil; it dislikes waterlogging. The first harvest of thick leaves comes in about eight months to a year, then you can harvest leaves repeatedly for several years from the same planting, making it a long term low input crop. The main challenge is the market, not the growing. Buyers are pharma, cosmetic, herbal and gel processing companies, and prices for raw leaf can be modest, so a buyback or processing tie up is important before you scale. Avoid planting large area on speculation. Confirm a buyer or nearby processing unit, and ask your horticulture department or KVK about suitable varieties and any medicinal plant board support.
KKailash Choudhary11mo ago
Aloe grows easily in our dry land with very little water, that is its big plus. The problem was selling. Raw leaf rate is low and the buyer was far. Fix a buyer or a processing unit first, otherwise the crop just sits there.
SSantosh Meena11mo ago
Do not overwater, the plants rot. Once established it keeps giving leaves for years. I tie up with a herbal products buyer through a group, that gave me a steadier rate than selling alone.
MMohan Singh10mo ago
Be careful of agents who sell costly aloe saplings with a promised buyback. A few farmers here paid high for plants and the buyer never showed up at harvest. Raw leaf is bulky and low value, so transport eats your margin if the buyer is far. Confirm everything in writing first.
GGita Choudhary10mo ago
Spacing and drainage decided my crop. I planted on slightly raised lines so rain water never stood, because even our little rain rotted the plants in low spots the first year. Once it took off, the suckers multiply and you can expand your own area free from your own plants.