INTRODUCTION ABOUT MITHA PAT
Organic innovation ("organicinnovationassam.blogspot.in")is the pioneer cultivator of Stevia(Mitha Pat) of North East- Assam. Organic Innovation is a Unit of Hahnemann Charitable Mission Society and C & F of Sunrise Agriland Development & Research Pvt. Ltd. A group of Organic Firming, Medicinal Herb & Stevia farming, Deal with Organic Products like Amla, AloeVera juice, Kalp Amrit, Vermicompost, Neem Cake, Trichodarma etc.
We Provide Stevia Cultivation materials like Stevia plants, Vermicompost, Neem Cake, Trichoderma and training on Stevia, other medicinal herb cultivation and Vermicompost unit with 100% buy back agreement.
The MITHA PAT is commonly known as sweet leaf, sugar leaf, or simply MITHA PAT. This is widely grown for its sweet leaves. MITHA PAT and Sunflower belong to asteraceae family. The sweet herb MITHA PAT is becoming a major source of natural sweetener as an alternate of sugar. It is rapidly replacing the chemical sweetener like Splenda, Saccharine and Aspartame.
MITHA PAT has originated from Northeastern Paraguay and is widely distributed in USA, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It is commonly known as Caa-He-e (Sweet herb) in Japan and Korea and generally occurs on the edge of marshes or in grasslands on soil with shallow water tables.
ADVANTAGES OF MITHA PAT ARE AS FOLLOWING
1. It is a completely natural non-synthetic product; The sweetener contains absolutely no calories
2. The leaves can be used in their natural state
3. Thanks to its enormous sweetening power, only small quantities need to be used.
4. The plant is non-toxic
5. The leaves as well as the pure the sweetener extract can be cooked
6. No aftertaste or bitterness
7. Stable when heated up to 200 degrees
8. Non-fermentative
9. Flavour enhancing
10. Clinically tested and frequently used by humans without negative effect
11. Ideal and non-addictive sweetener for children
USES
· MITHA PAT is safe for diabetics, as it does, not affect blood sugar levels.
· MITHA PAT does not have the neurological or renal side effects of some of the artificial sweeteners.
· MITHA PAT possess anti-fungal and anti-bacterial property also in addition to its other versatile uses. It can be safely used in herbal medicines, tonics for diabetic patients and also in the daily usage products like mouthwashes, and tooth pastes.
· Mild MITHA PAT leaf tea offers excellent relief for an upset stomach.
SOIL
It grows well in sandy loam soils with an ample supply of water. It prefers acidic to neutral soil with a PH range of 6.5-7.5 for its best growth. Saline soils should be avoided as this plant is susceptible to water logged conditions.
CLIMATE
It is a semi-humid, subtropical plant and can grow in the temperature ranges between 04-48o C. An annual average temperature of 31o C with a rainfall of 140 cm per year has been found optimum for its good growth. It shows good seed germination when subjected to light and warm conditions. Hence, a long growing season, minimal frost, high light intensities and warm temperature favors higher leaf production. MITHA PAT is a short day plant, but the concentration of the sweetener in the leaves increases when the plants are grown under long day conditions. The day temperatures should not exceed 48 oC and the night temperatures should not fall below 04 o C.
LAND PREPARATION
The land sites are plowed and or cultivated twice to prepare a fairly smooth, firm-planting surface.
CULTIVATION PROPAGATION
MITHA PAT plants can be propagated from cuttings or seeds or by tissue culture. As the seed germination is very poor and seedlings are very slow to establish, it is generally propagated clonally through cuttings. For vegetative propagation, stem cuttings of 15 cm length taken from leaf axils of the current year’s growth have been given better results. Treatment with Paclobutrazol @ 100ppm has been found to induce the root initiation in short time and IBA@500 ppm is also found to be effective. The best months for propagation are February-March. The cuttings will be ready for transplanting after 25-30 days of rooting.
TRANSPLANTS
Transplants from cuttings would be superior; however, cost makes it prohibitive. MITHA PAT must be propagated from seed in plug trays placed in a greenhouse for a period of 7 to 8 weeks.
Green Dried Stevia leaves
PLANTING
Depending on different climatic conditions, MITHA PAT is cultivable throughout the year except for times when it is extremely hot or cold. MITHA PAT plug plants are planted into the field on 75 cm bed with row spacing of 45 cm at 45 cm height with a total plant density in the order of 30,000 plants per Acre.
FERTILIZATION
The plant appears to have low nutrient requirements; however a soil test should be conducted. Good organic manure must be applied time to time
WEED CONTROL
This crop also requires hand hoeing and weeding. After every 2 months there must be weeding
PESTS
Insect pest pressures other than cutworm are minimal. Septoria disease can cause considerable damage to the MITHA PAT crop. Animals seem to like the sweet taste of MITHA PAT, too. Application on neem based product will manage the disease and pests.
HARVESTING
Time of harvesting depends on land variety and growing season. Generally, it can be scheduled when plants are 40-60 centimeters in height. Shorter days induce flowering. Optimum yield (biomass) and the sweetener quality and quantity is best just prior to flowering. The plant will tolerate very low temperatures.
DRYING
Drying of the woody stems plus the soft green leaf material is completed immediately after harvesting, utilizing a drying wagon or a kiln. Depending on weather conditions and density of loading, it generally takes 24 to 48 hours to dry MITHA PAT at 40°C to 50°C. An estimated 2500 kg/Acre dry green leaves are obtained from three-four cutting of every year. It is cultivated up to 5 years after a one time plantation.
THRESHING
Immediately following drying, a specially designed thresher/separator is necessary to separate dry MITHA PAT leaves from its stem.
Farm development:-
Still the farm is in open location and it is undeveloped. First of all the farm will be develop then after it will require the fencing. There is no availability of the water so the water source will be required for the irrigation water.
COST OF CULTIVATION OF MITHA PAT
MITHA PAT is newly introduced new crop with the regular earning. As the first cutting of the crop start after three months of the sowing and there is regular cutting after every 2-3 Months as per climatic condition. The crop is at high demand as it is only source of natural sweetener. The crop is the first choice of the sugar free industry. The processing plants have also been established in the country. The crop is planted for five years. After the fifth year the marginal return start to decline so it is best to uproot crop and replant it.
Market / Buy back Rates Rs. 100/- per kilograms
