• It is an indigenous medicinal plant of Central India that naturally grows in large quantities in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh etc.
• It is small tuberous plant measuring 30-50cm has life span of 3-8months and it surfaces once in a year during the rainy season.
• Its tuber find wide application in Ayurvedic medicine as general health tonic. During last decade, some systematic efforts have been made to popularise the cultivation of Musli which show that its cultivation is much more profitable than many other crops.
• Presently, there are about 100farmers in the country who have taken up its cultivation in a big way.

• In commercial parlance, 3types are known :

1.   C. borivillianum
2.   C. arundinaceum
3.   C. Tuberocum

• Climatic conditions of Central region suits the crop most and it grow successfully in the wide range of temperatures and rainfall.
• Sandy loam soils with proper drainage system facilitates its growth.

• The land is prepared well in the month of April - May with addition of 10-15trolleys FYM per acre.
• Green manure as preceding crop can also be used to enrich the soil. Rainsed beds (1 feet height x 3.5ft width) of suitable length are prepared to facilitate proper drainage and growth of tubers.
• Sowing is done in the month of June - July either through seeds or through fingers separated from old bunch of tubers (which are properly preserved from the old crop or are procured from the forests).
• It must be ensured that some part of the crown / disc remains intact with all the figers which are to be used for sowing.
• For good crop yield those tubers are considered good that carry an average weight of 8-21g.
• These fingers are planted at a distance of 6 x 6, and a total of 60,000 fingers are required per acre with approximate weight of 400-500kgs. The fingers are sown at a depth of 2.5-3.0cm.
• For better germination, the moisture level in the field must be maintained. The sprouting starts taking place within a week of sowing.

• It requires 2-3manual weedings to keep the field free of weeds. It requires about 15-20tonnes per hectare FYM and N:P:K application @80 : 100:60kg per hactare.

• Its above ground part starts yellowing after 3-31/2 months of growth and thereafter tubers/ disc fingers keep on maturing in the soil.
• The crop is harvested at an age of 7-8months when the skin of the tubers turns dark brown. After digging out the tubers they are properly washed and the fingers are detached.
• Longer and healthy fingers are taken for processing (the fingers are peeled out and kept in the sun for drying).

• The detached fingers meant for planting in the next season are stored in sand bags maintaining a temperature of 28-31⁰C and relative humidy of 50-65%.

No major pests and diseases occur.

• It gives an yield of 50-55 quintals of fresh Musli per hectare and after peeling and drying up nearly 10-12% quintal per hectare dry Musli is obtained.
• Considering a market price of Rs.1000perkg, a net profit of 3-4lakhs may be obtained.