Indian agriculture is constantly evolving with new technology and better crop varieties. One such boon to our agricultural community is the Arka Daksha variety of Velvet Bean, which has been created by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR), Bengaluru, Karnataka. Although velvet bean, or Mucuna pruriens, is not a very popular crop in India. It is increasingly being used for its medicinal value and soil-fertilizing qualities. Arka Daksha is unique as it is safe to handle, provides a good return, and can be a sustainable source of income, particularly for small and marginal farmers.
Medium-Duration Crop that Fits into Multiple Cropping Systems
Arka Daksha is a medium duration crop that takes around 150 to 160 days from sowing to maturity. This makes it a good candidate for crop rotation among major Kharif and Rabi crops. Rice, millet, maize, or pulse farmers can utilize velvet bean as a subsidiary crop. It requires minimal care and hence is even suitable for small farmers who cannot adopt high-input farming. It can be a consistent second crop in most of India if properly managed.
No More Itchy Trouble: Safe & Easy to Harvest
One of the major issues that farmers encounter when growing traditional velvet beans is the itching caused by its hairy pods. This has discouraged many farmers from embracing it, even though it has advantages. However, Arka Daksha addresses this issue. Its pods are itch-free and totally safe to touch. Farmers can harvest, thresh, and clean the beans with ease without any discomfort to their health. This innovation alone makes Arka Daksha a farmer-friendly crop in comparison to traditional varieties.
A Healthy Yield with Good Income Potential
Arka Daksha has a high yield potential of 1.6 to 2 tons per hectare under ideal growing conditions. For small scale farmers having limited land, this can provide additional earnings with comparatively less investment. The beans of this variety are in demand from the nutraceutical and Ayurvedic segments owing to their medicinal value. This demand can fetch better prices in the market, particularly if directly marketed or sold through farmer producer companies.
Rich in L-Dopa: A Crop with Medicinal Value
What makes Arka Daksha as a real gem is its rich L-Dopa content, which varies between 3.5% and 4.5%. L-Dopa is a naturally occurring substance employed in the management of Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions. Having such a substance in a legume crop confers medicinal significance on it. This provides not only farming opportunities but also value addition, local processing, and organic wellness product development opportunities. For farmers who grow medicinal plants or practice organic farming, Arka Daksh could prove to be a game changer.
A Crop for Health, Soil, and Sustainable Farming
Velvet bean is also proven to enhance the quality of the soil through fixation of nitrogen, reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers. In the form of cover crop or green manure, it enriches the structure of the soil as well as adds organic material. Organic and regenerative agriculture-adapting farmers can take help from Arka Daksha and enhance fertility of their land along with revenue through its seeds. It is a win-win for both the farm and the farmer.
Arka Daksha is a crop worth considering for any farmer wishing to diversify, make additional money, and transition to safer, more sustainable agricultural practices. This velvet bean variety can be a part of your success story, regardless of whether you are a young person interested in agribusiness, a woman farmer overseeing homestead plots, or an advanced farmer researching medicinal plants.
