Harvest
Tulsi can be ready for harvest 90-95 days after planting at flower initiation.1 This is ideal for Nepalese farmers because Tulsi should produce at least 3, if not 4, crops every year, meaning on-going income for farmers. This reduces risks of losing an entire year’s income due to adverse weather conditions or pests, etc.
The crop should be cut 15-20 cm above ground level, leaving the stems for regeneration.1 Tulsi then should be dried in the shade for about 8-10 days, thinly spread on burlap or gunny bags. The leaves should be turned frequently to prevent fungal attack.1 It is expected that a “well managed organically grown” Tulsi crop can produce roughly 12-15 tons per hectare, or 2.4 - 3 tons per hectare of dried leaves, can be obtained per year.1
Not only is Tulsi an extremely versatile crop, but input and labour are also minimal and relatively non-strenuous compared to other cash crops, making it an ideal crop for Nepalese farmers. Using Tulsi as a means of income and export takes advantage of Nepal’s diverse indigenous plants and preserves local culture and knowledge. Tulsi has been used for centuries in households in Nepal for religious and medicinal purposes, so introducing it to the global market would preserve Nepal’s rich historical culture and practices. Encouraging Nepalese farmers to cultivate crops that are indigenous to Nepal empowers them because of the readily available, indigenous knowledge they have in their own culture and creates a niche for them in the hostile and competitive market of international trade.
The crop should be cut 15-20 cm above ground level, leaving the stems for regeneration.1 Tulsi then should be dried in the shade for about 8-10 days, thinly spread on burlap or gunny bags. The leaves should be turned frequently to prevent fungal attack.1 It is expected that a “well managed organically grown” Tulsi crop can produce roughly 12-15 tons per hectare, or 2.4 - 3 tons per hectare of dried leaves, can be obtained per year.1
Not only is Tulsi an extremely versatile crop, but input and labour are also minimal and relatively non-strenuous compared to other cash crops, making it an ideal crop for Nepalese farmers. Using Tulsi as a means of income and export takes advantage of Nepal’s diverse indigenous plants and preserves local culture and knowledge. Tulsi has been used for centuries in households in Nepal for religious and medicinal purposes, so introducing it to the global market would preserve Nepal’s rich historical culture and practices. Encouraging Nepalese farmers to cultivate crops that are indigenous to Nepal empowers them because of the readily available, indigenous knowledge they have in their own culture and creates a niche for them in the hostile and competitive market of international trade.