Medicinal & Aromatic Plants

Annota

1. Introduction

Sinduri, called as Sindurpushpi, Trishnapushpi, Sukomala, Raktabija and Karchchandha in Samskrit; Latkan,
Sinduriya and Jafra in Hindi, Sadri in Marathi, Latkan in Bengali, Sinduri in Gujarati and Kumkum in Kannada. It is
known as Annato or Arnato in English and Bixa orellana Linn in Latin. Sinduri is an ever green shrub of the height of
2-5 metres belonging to the family of Bixaceae. Though bixa is reported native to tropical America and West Indies, it
is now widely distributed in most tropical countries like Brazil, Guyana, Mexico, Srilanka, Equador and Jamaica, Peru,
Surinam and India in wild and cultivated forms. It is cultivated commercially to extract the Annato colour from its
seeds. In India it is well distributed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, West Bengal, Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and also reported to be cultivated commercially since last 5 years.
Pertinent to mention that nearly 4000 acre area is under Annato cultivation in East and West Godavari, Khammam,
Rangareddy, Medak, Adilabad districts and adjoining area of Andhra Pradesh through individual land holders and A.P.
Forest Development Corporation.

2. Description of plants

The plants of sinduri are basically of two types –

• bearing greenish white flowers.

The flowers and fruits in both kinds of shrubs of sinduri appear in clusters. Its leaves resemble with a betel vine leaf
and its veins are red in colour. The fruits of this shrub are soft and thorny like that of Aranoli or dhatura which have
four petals. The fruits bear nearly 50 red seeds in colour on ripening. It flowers in August to December and fruits in
March-April. The fruit splits longitudinally in length in two parts as a result of which the red seeds become
conspicuous. These seeds drop down after some time. The red colour compound is extracted from these seeds
which are coated with thin pulpy, bright orange resinous coating commonly known as Annato dye or Bixin.

3. Important Uses of Sinduri

In Indian system of medicines especially in Ayurveda, the bitter, cold, dark brown bark is described helpful in blood
diseases, headache and phlegm. It is very effective in high fever. The leaves of Sinduri are reported blood purifier. It
is very effective for gonorrhea. The paste made from its seeds keeps mosquitoes at bay. Sinduri, if combined with
edible items do not affect either the taste or colour. Traditionally the red orange colour is in use as cosmetics in
tribals. However, the commercial product is Annato dye which is used mostly in dairy industry such as in colouring
butter, cheese, ghee, chocolate, icecream in dyeing cotton, silk clothes and leather, in colouration of medicines and in
making boot polishes. The colour is also used in making bindi or kumkum. By and large, it is a multipurpose species
whose bark, leaves, roots and seeds are used for medicinal, pharmaceutical, cosmetics and edible colouring
purposes. The ink and non edible colours have also been reported in use in many countries. The wastes of annato
seeds after extraction of colour have also been reported suitable for animal feed and also for human beings when
mixed with other edible material.

3.1 Annato Dye

Annato dye is basically a red orange pigment known as Bixin, extracted from the seed coat of Sinduri (Bixxaa
arellana). The quantity of Bixin in the seed varies from 0.73 to 1.3 percent by weight and contains carotenoid of
various types out of which cisbixin aalone accounts for 82 percent. Since bixin is the principal colouring matter, the
chemistry and performance of Annato colour is essentially of the bixin. Bixin is highly unsaturated compound.

The bixin dissolves in vegetable oil, undergoes complex series of isomerisation and degradation reactions when
heated to extraction temperatures. A yellow pigment transbixin and cisbixin are the major carotenoids in oil soluble
annato colour. The total pigment content of the commercial annato butter colour varies from 0.2 to 2.6 percent, at
least 30 percent of which is bixin.
3.1.1 Methods of Manufacturing Annato Colour

Annato colour is prepared by leaching the seed coats with an extractant prepared from one or more food grade
materials like various organic solvents, edible vegetable oils and fats and alkaline aqueous or alcoholic solution. The
annato colour may be of (a) water soluble and (b) oil soluble which may be obtained through (i) direct aqueous –
alkali extraction (ii) organic solvent extraction and distillation and (iii) mechanical, thermal and vacuum process of oil
solvent extraction system.

3.1.2. Utilization of waste Annato Seeds

The waste annato seeds after extraction of pigment are put under dehulling and defatting treatment for preparation of
flour which can be used as animal feed as it contains more than 12% protein and 40% carbohydrates. The
composition of Annato seeds given in table below shows the details of constituents. It was also found possible to use
this resource as a human nutrition when mixed with other materials.

3.1.3 Composition of Annato Seeds

Constituents g/100 g seeds

Protein Around 12

Ether extract 5.22 - 8.84

Total carbohydrates 39.91 - 47.90

Ash 5.44 - 6.92

Pentosans 11.35 - 14.97

Pectin 0.23 - 0.55

Tannins 0.33 - 0.91

Total carotenoids 1.21 - 2.30

Source (1) Angalucci et.al (1980), (2) Aparnathi K.D. and Sharma R.S. (1991)

4. Agro-Technology

4.1 Soil and Climate

Annato is grown/cultivated in well drained red and alluvial soils with pH between 6 to 7.5. It comes up well in deep
soil but can be grown on shallow soils also but needs proper pit digging and soil work. Being a tropical plant it can
thrive well under 280 to 440 centigrade temperature and 800-1500 mm annual rain fall. It can not withstand severe
cold climates and hence cannot be grown in north Indian states. The economic life of plant is about 20 to 25 years.

4.2 Planting Techniques

a) Planting Material

The planting material can be obtained through seeds, cuttings and tissue culture plants from certified and quality
source. The germination percent of seeds is reported to be low upto 25-30% due to high percentage of non-viable
seeds and mucilaginous secretion. The dye back and drying of seedlings in early stage is reported to be a common
phenomenon. It is therefore, preferred to depend upon the cuttings, clonal propagation and tissue cultured plants.
The quality seeds, seedlings and clonal material may be procured presently from A.P.Forest Development
Corporation, Hyderabad and through a private nursery located in Vishakhapatanam. The tissue cultured plants can
be obtained from M/s. GUFIC Biosciences Ltd. Andheri (Mumbai). The cost of seedling, clonal/cuttings and tissue
cultured plants may be assumed as Rs.5, Rs.10 and Rs.20 per plant respectively.

b) Planting Season

The planting season is generally the monsoon period (June to September). However, it can be planted till October
provided assured irrigation source exists for protective irrigation.

4.3 Pre-plantation and Plantation Activities

Annato/Sinduri is planted as ornamental or avenue plantation also being its evergreen and bushy nature. It may
therefore be planted as line or boundary plantation and as block plantation on degraded/waste lands. Like any other
plantation crop, the unwanted weeds and bushes are cleared for better growth. The land may be ploughed by
tractors or bullocks and also leveled along contour to facilitate irrigation.

a) Spacing and Planting Material

The pits of 30 x 30 x 30 cms size are dug at 3 x 3 m or 3 x 2.5 m spacing for accommodating 1100 to 1200 plants per
ha or nearly 450 to 500 plants per acre. Considering the mortality and gap filling, an additional 15-20% plants are
required to be arranged. It is, therefore, desirable to arrange 500 planting material per acre.

b) Irrigation

Though the plantation is required to be done during rains, in case of dry days during monsoons it is always desirable
to provide 2-3 irrigations immediately after planting. Therefore, irrigation is desirable at weekly interval taking into
consideration the soil type, texture, water holding capacity and atmospheric temperature. Irrigation may also be
given at 2nd, 3rd and 4th year onwards for proper growth and seed production. Better results are obtained when
moisture stress is absent from flowering to capsule maturity stage.

c) Fertilizers

The Bixa plant responds well with fertilization and give always better yield and income. The recommended dose per
plant for Ist and subsequent years are given as below :
 Fertiliser

Year 1

Year 2 onwards

Per plant (g)

Per acre (kg)

Per plant (g)

Per acre (kg)

1) 19:19:19 NPK

i) at planting

250

125

ii)3 months after planting

250

125

iii) At flower initiation

0
All the fertilizers need to be given by ring method away from the main stem. The minor modifications in the
mentioned fertilizer schedule based on the local soil conditions may be made. As in all cases of fertilizer application,
plants need to be irrigated immediately after fertilizer application.

d) Weeding and Interculture

The weeding, mulching and soil working around the pits are always desirable for better yield. Two weedings upto 3rd
year is essential i.e. one weeding and soil working before and one after monsoons.

e) Application of Pesticides

There are no specific pest attack reported with Bixa. But they sometime show die back symptoms under prolonged
water logged conditions. It is advisable to spray the plants with a mixture of Bavistin and copper oxy chloride during
the initiation of symptoms of die back.

4.4 Flowering and Fruiting

Flowering generally starts in 3rd year of planting. However, tissue cultured plants are reported to be under flowering
in 2nd year. Blooming starts from July-August to end of October. The capsule (fruit) formation starts after 30 days of
flowering. The fruiting therefore may be seen from September-October to February.

4.5 Harvesting and Post Harvesting Care

Harvesting of fruits may be initiated from October onwards. The right stage of harvesting is determined by stage of
drying of capsules and development of cracks thereon. Capsules are harvested in bunch and spread on polythene
sheets or clothes under semi shaded condition for 6-7 days. The dried pods are beaten to remove the seeds. The
separated seeds are winnowed and stored in gunny bags in cool and dry places.

4.6 Pruning

Pruning is important to get better yield from Bixa plant. it is recommended to prune the branches/twigs every year
after harvest by sharp pruning saw or secateur. Pruning should be done in early morning. A light spray of fungicide
after pruning is also required to avoid the fungal attack. The pruned twigs sprout into 3-5 new shoots which becomes
ready for blossoming in next season.

5. Yield

Though the yield starts from IInd year of plantation under tissue cultured plants, the economic yield is assumed from
IIIrd year onwards. Considering the yield data obtained from the plantations raised in Andhra Pradesh by M/s.
T.Nagaiah, Bellampally and data obtained from GUFIC Bioscience Ltd. Mumbai, the yield per acre is assumed at
100% survival (i.e. 500 plants/acre). The minimum yield projections are considered to work out the economics.

Since economic age of the plant varies from 12 to 15 years, the yield calculations can be made for 10 harvesting
years i.e. for 12 years period. Generally the yield from 3rd to 5th year is variable with age but stabilizes from 6th year
onwards. The information based on plantations raised in Andhra Pradesh since last 5 years and through other
sources shows the yield per plant and per acre as below:
 Year

Per plant
(kg)
(Minimum)

Per acre
(kg)
(Minimum)

III

1 Kg

500 Kg

IV

2 Kg

1000 Kg

3 Kg

1500 Kg

VI

4 Kg

2000 Kg
6. Income

The income depends upon the market rate of the seeds. Presently the rates vary from Rs.25/kg to 40/kg in Indian
market. However the rates under assured buyback arrangement should be preferred and advisable. Presently the
assured buyback at factory gate price may be assumed as Rs.25/kg. Therefore the income per acre will be as below
:
 Year

Yield

Rate

Income/Acre

III

500 Kg

25

12500

IV

1000 Kg

25

25000

1500 Kg

25

37500

VI

2000 Kg

25

50000
7. Cost of Cultivation

The year wise cost of cultivation is computed in Annexure considering the wage rates Rs.50/manday. This includes
the labour component, planting material, FYM, recommended doses of fertilizers and pesticides etc. The cost for
pruning, harvesting, packing and packaging is also included being the labour incentive process which continues for 3
to 4 months. The total cost upto III years works out to be Rs.36,225/- including the miscellaneous expenses or
contingencies upto 5% of total cost. The bank loan, however, will be Rs.32,603/- only i.e. 90% of total cost of initial 3
years.

8. Viability

The viability of plantation is worked out based on the economic life of plant. The BCR and NPW are found to be 2:2,
67,301 respectively. The Internal Rate of Return on 10 year basis is worked out as above 49.97% showing a high
degree of financial viability.

9. Repayment Schedule

Repayment schedule is worked out on the basis of 90% of loan amount at 12% interest rate. As the income at IIIrd
year appears to be at lower side and at the end of financial year (February-March) it is suggested to provide the
grace period of 3 years for principal amount. Repayment may be allowed from 4th year (after March) in graded
instalments which will be repaid fully by the end of sixth year. After repayment of principal and interest the borrower
will have a net surplus of Rs.38,900/- at the end of 6th year. The borrower will have a minimum of Rs.39,185/- net
income per acre annually from 7th year onwards regularly.

10. Refinance Assistance

As the scheme will be implemented on wastelands the financial institutions/banks will be eligible to avail 100%
refinance at 7 to 7.5% interest rate annually depending upon the financial institutions.

11. Margin Money

Margin money will be decided as per borrowers’ category which may vary from 5 to 25% (i.e. from small farmers to
corporate borrowers).

12. Security

Security against bank loan will be charged as per rule specified by RBI from time to time. The hypothecation of
standing crop will however be the part of security.

13. Insurance Coverage

The crop may be insured against damage by natural calamities for which the financing bank may stipulate the special
terms and conditions as per rule of General Insurance Company.

Farm Model for Bixa ( Unit : 1 acre )