| Introduction : |
This is called Latakar,
Jaffra, in Hindi, Sinduri puspi, Trinapuspi, Sinkomala,
Raktabeeja, Karachamala in Sanskrit, Shadari in
Marathi, Sinduri in Gujarati, Annato in English
and Bixorellana in Scientific. This is an evergreen
shrub and grows to 15 ft. height. This is a native
of America and also India. It is grown extensively
in Brazil and Mexico for its dye. In India it is
grown in Karnataka. AP, MP, TN, Orissa, Maharashtra.
Its leves resemble the shape and size of bettle
leaves. There are two types of species viz.,
01) White flowers and yellow fruit
02) Red flowers and red fruit
Both shrubs yield fruit in bunches. The fruit is
covered with rind and has soft spines. The fruit
has orange red seeds in it about 50 in numbr. The
shrub blooms between August to December and yields
fruit in March/April. On ripening the fruit splits
lengthwise and the seeds start appearing. After
sometime the seeds will dry up. The dye extracted
from the seeds is called Bixin. |
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| Important Uses of Annato : |
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It is used in medicines for many
ailments. This is good for viral fevers and urinary
problems. When the red dust on the seeds is mixed
with water and applied on the body. It acts as a
mosquito repellent. It is useful for general health
if the leaves are ground to past and mixed with
missri and taken orally. As the dye is edible it
is used for colouring butter, paneer, ghee, margarine,
ice creams etc. It is also used as dye on cloth,
skin, boot polish, medicines, cosmetics etc., |
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| Cultivation Practices : |
| Soil : Any type of
soil is suitable for Annato. Red soils and light soils
are best suited. It can also be cultivated in black soil,
which are having good drainage. It comes up well in pH
range of in 6.5 – 8.0. This can be cultivated as sole
crop or this can be intercropped with others like turmeric,
ginger, Sarpagandha, Ashwagandha, Safed Musli. |
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| Climate : It is a tropical
plant, so it performs well in India. It grows well in
temperature range of 20-450 C and rainfall of about 500
– 750 mm. |
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Planting : Planting
can be done during the months of July to September or
in January – February. Saplings can be raised from
the seeds in April to May.
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| Planting Methods : |
- Plough the field twice or more to remove the weeds.
- Prepare the pits at 10*10 feet distance.
- Pit size 1*1*1
- Mix 5-7 kg of FYM, 100 gms of super phosphate,
400 gms of neem cake, with the soil removed from the
pits and fill them with the same.
- Fill the pits 3/4th and dry them for 10 –
15 days.
- Press the soil around base of stem before watering
to prevent lodging.
- Apply complex 17:17:17: @ 100 gms, compost 10 kg
per plant once in 4 months up to 7 years.
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| Irrigation : |
| To establish initially crop requires
irrigation. Drip system is advisable for effective use
of water.
INTER CULTIVATION : Soil is to be loosened
to avoid weed growth and to conserve moisture underneath.
Bullock drawn cultivator can remove weeds in between
plants.
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| Plant Protection : |
| Usually the crop is less prone to pests
and diseases. If leaf eating caterpillars and jassids
attach the field, apply monocrotophos @ 1.6ml/lt of water.
If leaf spot infests the field spray D-M-45 @ 3 gm/lt
of water. Spraying the chemicals should be avoided after
flowering. |
| Harvesting : |
Yield start from
12th month but first flush to be removed to enable
the plant for better vegetative growth. In next
6 months it again flowers and give yield. Yield
will be peak from 4th year. Yield will be ½ kg per
shrub till 3rd year and it will be 4-5 kg per shrub
in 4th year. Total yield is around 14-20 quintal
per acre.
Economics :
The going rate for Annato is Rs.20 to
20 per kg. The profit per acre can be upto Rs.40,000/-.
Annato is in great demand and it is expected that the
demand for it will go on increasing. Annato has bright
future in domestic and international market. |
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| Seed Procurement : |
| As the fruit starts splitting the fruit
is picked and kept for drying in shade for 4 days. This
is kept in bags in the sun for some time and is beaten
with sticks for removing the seeds. The seeds are then
filled in the bags and sold. After their life cycle the
plants can be removed and used as firewood. This shrub
remains evergreen, attractive and aesthetic to surroundings.
To extract colour from the seeds, please refer to CFTRI
Mysore – 570 013. |
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