The Hindu : `Paradise tree' promises immense potential

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

`Paradise tree' promises immense potential

By A.D. Rangarajan

TIRUPATI March 5. Though the Government had long back set its eyes on exploring greener avenues for boosting the economy, it surely would have been cursing itself for having virtually ignored a tree growing right in its backyard for over half a decade.

The tree's hidden potential in giving a push to the rural economy could not have seen light at a more appropriate time, given the acute drought in the State. Compared to Pongamia (Kanuga), that has already made a mark in parts of the State as the `bio-diesel' and managed to hog attention, its lesser known cousin, Simarouba, continued to be in the dark.

Simarouba (Simarouba Glauca for botanists), also known as "Paradise tree'', is a native of El Salvador in Latin America that was introduced first in the country in Amravati (Maharashtra) in 1966. It was being grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Orissa for green cover or as part of avenue plantation and no specific significance was attached to it. However, its potential to be the `tree of the future' was uncovered only recently.

Though an agriculture-centric country, the wide demand-supply gap forced India to import millions of tonnes of vegetable oils every year. Given the increase in population, the prospects of achieving self-sufficiency in edible oils could remain a distant dream, unless some kind of `intervention' is made to stem the pattern. It is where Simarouba could help.

Syamasundar Joshi, a scientist in the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, who had taken up elaborate study on the tree, believes that the Simarouba would provide this much-needed intervention. Its seeds are found to be economically important as they contain 60-75 p.c. oil, compared to the 45-50 p.c. in Indian groundnut variety and hence can be used in making vegetable fat or margarine. Apart from edible purposes, it could be a promising ingredient in the manufacture of soaps, lubricants, paints, polishes and pharmaceuticals.

Not only the seed, every part of the tree is useful in some way. The oilcake makes a valuable organic manure as it is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. The shells form the raw material for the hardboard industry. The fruit pulp can be used in the beverage and fermentation industry as it contains 11 p.c. sugar. The leaf and bark contain Simarubin, a chemical used in curing amoebiasis, diarrhoea and malaria. The insect-resistant wood is okay for light furniture industry, toys, packing material, paper pulp and matches.

Even the leaf litter, which yields 20 kg per tree a year, makes a good manure. The highlight is that it grows even on barren land, irrespective of soil and climatic conditions. In fact, it had even surprised the scientists initially when it got adapted to the Indian atmosphere with ease.

The Forest Department's Biotechnology Research Centre (Biotrim) at Tirupati has been growing the tree for the last six years on a demonstration plot, without actually knowing its potential.

Suddenly, all eyes are set on the 200 plus trees being grown in its Srinivasavanam Research Station at Kukkaladoddi, 27 km from here skirting the Cuddapah border.

Coincidence or otherwise, the trees have come to the flowering stage just now, when their benefits have come to light. And it is now an open book, providing one the chance to verify the claims.

The only thing that can hamper its growth is the tastes and preferences of the consumer. While the oil consumption pattern differs throughout the country, it is not known whether this oil will be okay for the Indian tastebuds. However, it is learnt that it was widely accepted when it entered the Latin American market in 1950 under the trade name of `Nieve'.

Even if not for its numerous advantages, mass plantation of the tree has to be taken up at least for wasteland reclamation. Given the perennial drought in the State, it may not be difficult to believe that this tree, which absolutely requires no maintenance, has much in store for the uplift of the rural poor.

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