Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican Sunflower)
aka Mexican sunflower, tree marigold, Mexican tournesol, Nitobe chrysanthemum
Naturalised distribution (global)
Locations within which Tithonia diversifolia is naturalised include Australia, south-eastern USA, tropical and subtropical Africa and many oceanic islands with warm climates.
Introduced, naturalised or invasive in East Africa
Tithonia diversifolia is invasive in parts of Kenya, Uganda (A.B.R. Witt pers. obs.) and Tanzania (Tropical Biology Association 2010)
Economic and other uses
Tithonia diversifolia is a fast-growing species, used as a garden ornamental, a green manure in agroforestry systems, a live fence (hedge) and as a fodder crop for livestock such as goats and cattle.
More information here
*****
Moringa (Sahajan/Drumstick)
******
Featured video
Moringa documentary – how the Drumstick is grown and used around the world (particularly in very hot, dry areas)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RRzJ4O4B2k
********
What is the cultivation of Sahajan (Drumstick)
Sahajan is a medicinal plant. Its official name Moringa Oleifera. It is also known by different names in different areas.
Market Demand
Many types of medicines are made from this plant, so its demand is very high not only in both India and abroad. After cultivating it, it can be exported so it can be quite a profitable business. The sowing of its crops can earn a profit at a relatively low cost.
Features and Benefits
The main feature of sahajan is that once its seed is sown, it lasts for four years, i.e. no sowing is required for four years. It thrives automatically every year. Neither does it require more land, nor much water, nor much maintenance, which means it is very easy and beneficial to cultivate it overall. You don’t even need to set aside land and you can grow it along with other crops too.
Special attention has to be taken for the cultivation of Sahajan that it should be cultivated in a hot place (it doesn’t thrive well in cold places). The flowers of Sahajan also bloom in temperatures above 25 to 30 degrees Celsius.
The sowing of Sahajan crop is done twide a year. For this the soil should be dry or smooth sandy for it to cultivate well.The age of the Sahajan tree is 10 years, in which it grows well.
Main varieties of Sahajan Coimbatore 2, Rohit 1, P. K. M. 1, & P. K. M. 2 etc.
Along with the flower of Sahajan, this fruit is also made a vegetable, even people make salad of its leaves and eat it, so the flowers, fruits and leaves of Sahajan have medicinal properties. According to Ayurveda doctors, this is a plant that prevents more than 300 diseases and it also makes your immunity a lot stronger. The oil extracted from the seed of Sahajan is used to make various medicines. When describing the nutrients found in Sahajan plants, it contains 90 vitamins, 46 anti-oxidants and 18 types of amino acids.
The Himachal Pradesh government has started forest conservation public protection scheme where growers can earn money by growing medicinal plants.
How to cultivate Sahajan
You can cultivate Sahajan in 1 acres of land; you can plant at least 1200 seeds on it. In order to cultivate sahajan you must sow its seed in daytime and in dry soil. For this you have dig a pit 1 foot wide and deep, then fill it with loose soil and add fertiliser. Seed distance not less than 5 cm. After this, keep watering it a little bit – keep in mind that it does not need much water. The plant will start growing within 12 days.
After sowing it, it is enough to maintain it a little bit. After sowing, when it grows well, then harvest and trim it.
Total Cost of Sahajan Farming
ou need to inYvest only Rs 50 to Rs 60 thousand for the whole work. You don’t even need to hire an employee for this because you can do it alone too.
Profit from Sahajan farming
You can earn by selling the fruits, flowers and leaves of Sahajan, because all three of them are sold in the market. All three things are in demand. If you plant it on 1 acres of land, you can potetially earn up to Rs 6 lakh per year.
More information here
*******
Nutrition values – 26% protein by weight 17 times the calcium of milk 4 times vitamins of carrots 15 times the potassium of bananas 25 times the Iron of spinach 7 times the vitamin C of oranges 92 nutrients 46 natural antioxidants
*********
Medicinal benefits of Moringa
Moringa oleifera plant is like a super food and almost every part is very beneficial — leaf, bark, seed, flower, and root — as tea, in soup, in powder, as snuff, as oil, as capsule, etc. In this video, we take a look at health benefits, side effects, dangers, lies and exaggerations concerning moringa.
