Tirur betel leaves growers seek Centre’s support to promote it overseas

Tirur betel leaf farmers have approached the Centre with a request to take some initiatives to empower further worth-addition for the GI-tagged Tirur Vettila in perspective of its medicinal homes.

This would open up up new opportunities for the merchandise in overseas markets, Tirur Betel Leaf Producers Culture has explained.

To leverage the gain of the GI tag, the Culture has urged the authorities to contain the commodity in the trade advertising strategies organised by the ministries involved in both equally domestic and intercontinental fora.

In a memorandum submitted to S Jaishankar, Union Exterior Affairs Minister, Beerankutty Melethil, Secretary, Tirur Betel Leaf Producers Culture, also urged the Centre to reinstate exports of Tirur vettila and market its quality and uniqueness beneath the Ministry as a result of its various techniques, mechanisms and the government’s mission overseas.

Tirur vettila is made in Tirur in Kerala’s Malappuram district on 266 hectares and is one of a kind for its significantly high articles of total chlorophyl and protein in new leaves. Eugenol is the big essential oil in Tirur vettila contributing to its pungency and its shelf period of time is higher compared to other betel leaves.

As scientists certify, the antioxidant home is additional in Tirur vettila adding to its medicinal homes. This betel leaf is additional pungent than any other cultivars, Melethil explained.

Since Tirur vettila is of wonderful medicinal worth, the modern society requested the Minister to difficulty quick way to nationwide agricultural institutes to carry out investigate on medicinal homes in get to upscale its use in ayurveda. The authorities should really contain the merchandise in farm tourism and Ayush initiatives and market its use in the creation of ayurvedic medications.

The lockdown past 12 months experienced forced farmers to abandon the harvest in June and July. Having said that, the commencing of teach providers experienced helped to get better some demand from customers in North Indian markets on a reduce observe.