RAJASTHAN AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT

Value Chain Analysis

Isabgol

Prepared by:

AGRI BUSINESS PROMOTION FACILITY

Value chain analysis: Isabgol i

Contents

Page

List of Tables iii

List of Figures iv

Executive Summary: Isabgol 1

Chapter-1 Introduction 3

1.1. Global scenario 4

1.2. Indian Scenario 5

1.3. State Scenario 7

1.4. District and cluster scenario: Production 7

1.5. Approach to Value Chain Analysis 9

Chapter 2- Pre Harvest Management 10

2.1. Major Commercial Varieties Grown in Rajasthan 10

2.2. Seasonal Availability Pattern 10

2.3. Land Preparation 10

2.4. Sowing, Planting and Cultivation 11

2.5. Climatic and Soil Requirement 12

2.6. Nutrients Management 12

2.7. Water Management 12

2.8. Weed Management 12

2.9. Pest & Disease Management 12

2.10. Harvesting 14

2.11. Pre Harvest Constraints of farmers 14

Chapter 3- Post Harvest Management 15

3.1. Post-Harvest Losses, Harvesting Care and Post-Harvest Equipment 15

3.2. Grade Specification & Grading at Producer level 17

3.3. Major Storage Disease and Pest and their Control Measure 17

Chapter 4- Cost of production and Net value accruals to producers 18

Chapter 5- Supply Chain of commodity 19

5.1. Seasonal Availability and Price Pattern 19

5.2. Existing pre-intervention value chain 20

5.3. Alternative Systems of Marketing 23

Value chain analysis: Isabgol ii

Chapter-6 Processing Infrastructure availability and Utilization 25

6.1. Processing 25

6.2. Price build up & Marketing Efficiency Analysis 26

6.3. Stakeholder’s Share in Consumer Rupee 26

6.4. Consumer preference Analysis 26

Chapter-7 Existing Institutional support and Infrastructure facility 27

7.1. Support at cultivation stage 27

7.2. Support at Post-harvest, Primary and Secondary Processing Stage 27

Chapter-8 Gap & Constraint Analysis 29

8.1. As Perceived by Producers and others Stakeholders 29

8.2. Swot Analysis of Value chain of Isabgol 30

8.3. PIESTEC 31

Chapter-9 Proposed Interventions& Investments 32

9.1. Value chain constraints and suggested interventions 32

9.2. Envisaged Post-Intervention Value chain map of Isabgol 35

9.3. Conclusion: 39

References 41

Annexure 1: Stakeholders consulted over the study 42

Value chain analysis: Isabgol iii

List of Tables

Table 1: Nutritional Quality of Isabgol Seeds ................................................................................................ 4 Table 2: Fractional Carbohydrates Composition of Isabgol Husk ............................................................. 4 Table 3: Major Importers of Isabgol in the world......................................................................................... 4 Table 4: Major Isabgol producing districts in Rajasthan .............................................................................. 8 Table 5: District Catchment area ..................................................................................................................... 8 Table 6: Consultations of stakeholders for Value chain Analysis of Isabgol ............................................ 9 Table 7: High yielding varieties and their Sources of Availability ............................................................. 10 Table 8: Storage structure of Isabgol Seed and Husk ................................................................................. 16 Table 9: Grade Specification of Isabgol ........................................................................................................ 17 Table 10: Seasonal Availability of Isabgol in Rajasthan .............................................................................. 19 Table 11: Market arrivals and prices of Isabgol in Nagaur Mandi ............................................................ 19 Table 12: List of market fees .......................................................................................................................... 21 Table 13: Short Term and Long Term loans................................................................................................ 27

Value chain analysis: Isabgol iv

List of Figures

Figure 1: Isabgol Flower .................................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 2: India’s Isabgol Husk Export ............................................................................................................ 6 Figure 3: Major Isabgol Markets in the world ................................................................................................ 6 Figure 4: Major Exporters of Isabgol Husk from India ............................................................................... 6 Figure 5: Seasonal Availability Pattern of Isabgol ....................................................................................... 10 Figure 6: Land Preparation and cropping pattern in Isabgol farming ..................................................... 11 Figure 7: Isabgol Plant ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 8: Aphids ................................................................................................................................................ 12 Figure 9: Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew and rhizoctonia wilt ............................................................ 13 Figure 10: Isabgol Harvesting ......................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 11: Isabgol Packaging as per the market demand ........................................................................... 16 Figure 12: Arrival VS Price in Nagaur Mandi .............................................................................................. 20 Figure 13: Indicative Pre Intervention Value chain map of Isabgol ........................................................ 22 Figure 14: Post Intervention value chain map of Isabgol .......................................................................... 36 Figure 15 FPC Development Approach ....................................................................................................... 37

Value chain analysis: Isabgol 1

Executive Summary: Isabgol

“Plantago ovata” commonly known as ‘Psyllium’ in English and ‘Isabgol’ in Hindi belongs to the

family of Plantaginaceae, is a 10-45 cm short-stemmed annual herb known by different names such

as ashwagolam, aspaghol, aspagol, bazarqutuna, blond Psyllium. Isabgol has high fiber content and

acts like a sponge serving to clean the bowels and is extensively cultivated in many parts of the

globe. It is commercially an important Rabi season crop known for its medicinal properties. Apart

from its husk (The seed coat is known as “husk”) it is also being used in food industry especially in

ice creams, biscuits and candies. The crop is mainly cultivated in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat,

Haryana and Madhya Pradesh.

Notably, India ranks first in Isabgol production (98%) and is the sole supplier of seeds and husk in

the international market. Among medicinal plants, Isabgol is the first ranked foreign exchange

earner for the country (Rs.30 million annually). It contains a significant amount of proteins and husk

yields colloidal mucilage which are valued for medicinal application and is used in Aryuvedic, unani

and allopathic systems of medicines. USA is the chief importer of Isabgol seeds and husk from

India. The crop has a large export demand in USA and Western Europe and about 90% of the

production is exported to these countries.

Rajasthan is one of the major Isabgol producing states in India after Gujarat. The state ranks first in

terms of area and production in the country. Isabgol thrives well in warm temperate region and

requires cool and dry weather during its crop season hence generally it is sown during winter

months. It grows well in saline soils with poor quality water in western Rajasthan as Rabi crop. The

water requirement is low as compared to traditional crop thus, making it suitable for such areas. It

matures in about 120 days (November to Feb-March). The spikes are harvested when they turn red.

Isabgol products available in the market are used as laxative that is particularly beneficial in

constipation, chronic ailments and dysentery. Seed prices are not governed by any regulations and

are solely dependent upon the farmers. The average price of the seed is around Rs.35 to Rs.55 per

kg. The crop covers 214188 hectares with the production of 113344 ton and average productivity of

529 kg/ha (Vital Agriculture Statistics, 2011-12) in the state.

RI-87, RI-89, AMB-2, GI-1, GI-2, GI 3, MIB-4, HI-34, HI-2, HI-1, HI-5, JI-4 and Niharika are the

major varieties of Isabgol grown in India. Gujarat Isabgol-1, variety yields 800-900 kg of seeds per

hectare.

Some key strengths of Isabgol value chain are: It’s a high value medicinal crop, India is the larg