Tuesday, 15 April 2014

[www.keralites.net] Bangalore's Art of Living ashram now flush with Paradise tree : - Many health benefits

 

Lakshmi Taru - the medicinal tree :- 
LAKSHMI TARU (Simarouba glauca DC; Common names: Simarouba, oil tree, paradise tree or aceituno) is an important tree species growing in the forests of Central America. It was first introduced by National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in the Research Station at Amravathi, Maharashtra in 1960s.

 
Seeds contain 60-75% oil that can be extracted by conventional methods
Each well-grown tree yields 15 to 30 Kg nutlets equivalent to 2.5-5 Kg oil and about the same quantity of oilcake. This amounts to 1000-2000 Kg oil/ha/year (400-800 Kg/acre/year) and about the same quantity of oilcake
The oil is largely used in the preparation of bakery products in Central America. In India too it can be used in the manufacture of vanaspati, vegetable oil and/or margarine.

 

 
The oil is free from bad cholesterol. It can be also used for industrial purposes in the manufacture of BIOFUELS, soaps, detergents, lubricants, varnishes, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc.
The oilcake being rich in nitrogen (8%), phosphorus (1.1%) and potash (1.2%), is good organic manure
The shells can be used in the manufacture of particle board, activated charcoal or as fuel
The fruit pulp, rich in sugars (about 11%) can be used in the preparation of beverages
The pulp along with leaf litter can be economically used in the manufacture of Vermicompost (about 8 tons/ha/year or 3 tons/acre/year)
The bark and leaves are medicinally important
The wood is generally insect resistant and is used in the preparation of quality furniture, toys, in match industry, as pulp (in paper making) and as fuel.

 
"The most important quality of these seeds is that it could be used in the production of bio-fuel. If India takes up the cultivation of this wonder tree on a commercial basis, it can rid the country of its fossil fuel bills," he added.
 
The Joshis extract medicine from the trees fruit, its bark, and also its leaves. They claim that the tree has many health benefits. "The Simarouba fruit juice has a unique taste and it could give the colas a run for their money. Besides, the tree also has high-quality timber. It is strong and, at the same time, light-weight. It is ideal for making furniture," he said.

"Simarouba was named Lakshmi Taru because when a farmer invests Rs10 for the tree, he gets Rs1,000 or more as returns," he said.

The ashram's nursery is the largest producer of Lakshmi Taru in the state. The forest department is using the saplings from the nursery to make the wastelands of Western Ghats green.


 

 
Ravi

www.keralites.net

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