Thinking of ashwagandha for the root market. Want growing basics, suitable regions and realistic returns.
Is ashwagandha cultivation profitable and which state is best?
DDinesh Patidar11mo ago · 338 views
6 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓10mo ago
Ashwagandha is a hardy, drought tolerant medicinal crop grown mainly for its roots, and Madhya Pradesh, especially the Neemuch, Mandsaur and Manasa belt, along with parts of Rajasthan, is the traditional hub. It is a short duration rabi crop on well drained sandy loam, needs little irrigation, and is harvested in about 150 to 180 days for roots, with seed as a secondary product. It suits low rainfall, light soils where many crops struggle. Profit depends on root yield, root quality and the market rate, which varies, so returns can be good in a strong year but should not be assumed. Buyers are ayurvedic and herbal manufacturers and the mandis in the MP medicinal belt. As with most medicinal crops, line up a buyer or sell through an established mandi to avoid being stuck with produce. Use good quality seed and confirm current root rates and any National Medicinal Plants Board support before planting a large area.
MMahesh Patidar10mo ago
Around Neemuch many farmers grow ashwagandha, there is an established mandi for it. It needs little water which suits our area. Seed quality and proper root drying decide the rate. Returns were good some years, average in others.
RRadheshyam10mo ago
Do not over irrigate, it likes dry conditions. Harvest and dry the roots properly, clean white roots fetch more. Sell in the medicinal mandi here rather than to a random trader who pays less.
GGovind Patidar9mo ago
The advantage here is the established Neemuch mandi, so unlike some medicinal crops you have a real selling point. Still, grade your roots, the long thick clean roots get a premium and the thin broken ones go cheap. Sun dry them well so they do not develop mould before sale.
KKamla Bai9mo ago
I tried it on heavy soil first and the roots came out thin and forked, poor rate. On the lighter sandy loam plot the roots were much better. Match the soil, it really shows in the root quality and what the buyer pays.
PPrahlad Dhakad8mo ago
Buy seed from a reliable source, not the cheapest. My germination was patchy with bazaar seed one year and the stand was uneven. Good seed and the right sowing time after the monsoon gave me a far better crop the next season.