AGRIPEDIA

Guide for Aloe Vera Farming

04 December, 2017 12:00 AM IST By: Monika Mondal
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THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON Agriculture (NCA), reincarnated as the

National Commission on Farmers (NCF), implies that farmers are the center
of our agriculture. Their success is our success, the success of the nation.
This aspect was highly valued by the second Prime Minister of India which
found expression in the famous slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”. Aleo vera is a
medicinal plant which does not need a lot of efforts for cultivation and returns
huge benefits at minimal investments. 



Krishi Jagran, brings you a guide for the successful cultivation of the
medicinal plant :

Aloevera Cultivation
Aloevera (Aloe barbadensis) is a popular medicinal plant. It belongs to
liliaceae family. It is a perennial plant, growing to the hight of 1½ - 2½ ft. Its
leaves are long and thick, juicy with a wheel like phylotaxy. The two sides of
the leaves have thorny structure with a thorny tip. The inner substance of the
leaves is jelly like, with bad odour and bitter in taste. The length of the leaves
ranges from 25-30 cm., while the breadth ranges from 3-5 cm. Normally it
flowers during October to January and the long inflorescence has a large
number of small pink flowers all around. Fruits are developed during February
to April. It is normally not propagated through seeds. Vegetative propagation
is easy and convenient. Of late, because of sky rocketing price of allopathic
medicines with its known side effects, medicinal plants and ayurvedic
medicines are becoming popular. World trade worth about 80 million US$
dollars exists now and this is likely to increase by 35-40 percent within 5
years. USA dominates the market (65%) while India and China have a share
of 10 percent each which could be enhanced by its commercial cultivation.

Soil and Climate

Aloe vera is found to grow in hot humid and high rainfall conditions. It is
grown in all kind of soils but well drained soil with high organic matter, is most
suitable. It grows well in bright sun light. Shady conditions results in disease
infestation It is highly sensitive to water stagnation. Therefore, well drained
high land should be selected for its cultivation. A rainfall ranging from 1000 –
1200 mm is ideal for aloevera cultivation. Seedling Preparation and Planting
Since it is difficult to grow aloevera from seeds, seedlings are normally raised
from roots of the plants. Sucker itself can be used as seedlings as in Banana.
Rainy season is ideal for sucker plantation. A spacing of 1.5 x 1 ft, 1 ft x 2 ft or
2 ft x 2 ft is followed. Land Preparation About 2-3 ploughings and laddering
are done to make the soil weed free and friable. Land leveling is then
followed. Along the slope, 15-20 ft apart drainage are made.

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Application of Plant Nutrients

Before land preparation, about 8-10 tonnes FYM/ ha is applied. Before the
last ploughing, 35 kg N, 70 kg P 20 5, and 70 kg K2 0/ha are added. For
controlling termites, 350-400 kg Neem Cake  /  ha may be applied . In
September - October about 35-40 kg N as top dressing may be applied. If the
soil is rich in organic matter, N dose can be reduced.
Irrigation and Interculture
After  40 days or so weeding and earthing up are done. Earthing up is also
practiced after top dressing of fertiliser. Aloe vera is slightly tolerant to
drought, but very sensitive to water stagnation. Therefore, proper drainage is
more important than irrigation. As per need light irrigation during drought is
enough.

Plant Protection
Aloe vera is infested by various insets and pests. Special care is needed for
their control in medicinal plants like aloevera where the juice of the leaves are
directly taken as medicine. Clean cultivation, interculture operation, regular
and need based irrigation, application of adeguate organic manure, treatment
of suker before planting, and cultivation of aloevera in sunny conditions are
conducive for healthy growth of the aloe vera crop. Use of organic source of
plant protection materials like raw garlic juice, neem oil (10,000 ppm) 2-3 ml /
lit, tobacco extractant 20 ml / lit gave reasonably good result.

Yield
Harvesting of leaves starts after 7-8 months of planting. Sharp knife is used
for harvesting. Care has to be taken to reduce the loss of juice from the cut
portion. If harvesting is done once in a year, October - November are the best
period for harvesting. Second year gives maximum yield and for about 4-5
years good yield could be harvested . After harvesting leaves are dried in
shade and then in sun before storages. Flowers are collected in December -
January and preserved after proper drying. Yearly 100 - 115 quintals raw
leaves and 350 - 400 kg flowers / ha are obtained (3).
Medicinal Quality
Both the juice of leaves and flowers are used as medicine, but medicines are
prepared from leaves. Intake of juice of leave, improves hunger, and helps in
digestion. Juice when mixed with sugar cures cough and cold. Besides these,
it also cures nervous weakness, asthma, Jaundice, etc. The leaf flesh (about
7-Sg) mixed with honey, taken in morning and evening cures constipation.
Besides, it is good medicine for many other diseases.

It contains various organic compounds which ci1res diseases. Of these, the

main use is aloine. Besides, these it contains 12 types of vitamin, 20 kinds of
amino acids, 20 kinds of minerals, 200 different types of polysaccharides, and
various kinds of glycol- protein which are used for human health. Alaine A,
and Alaine B, are principles of the ayurvedic medicine (3).

Economics
Expenditure to be incurred for Aloe vera cultivation normally amounts to about
Rs.1,10,000 / ha. The expected income with a yield of about 110 - 115 quintal
would be about Rs. 340,000/ha.  The net profit would be about Rs.230,000 /
ha/year. In addition to monetary benefit, social benefit would be enormous.
Better management can results in much higher income and net profit.

Aloe Vera Growing Guide:

Introduction of Aloe Vera growing
Aloe Vera is one of the fast-growing medicinal plants throughout the
world. The plant is indigenous to Africa and other Mediterranean nations.
The plant is hardy perennial tropical plant and as its drought resisting
plant, it can be cultivated in places where other crops cannot be cultivated.
Aloe Vera grows to a height of 45 to 75 cm; the leaves are long 25 to 30
cm and three to five centimeter in width, thick and juicy. The leaves grow
in a circulating row around the trunk. The edges of the leaves on either
side grow thorny tips. The leaves at the top are much skinnier than the
bottoms which are thicker and fatter. Though Aloe Vera is rich in
medicinal properties, much research is going to exploit its potential but
still, it remains as disregarded and scattered as a wild plant. Aloe Vera
growing is gaining momentum in recent years for its market demand
because of its rich natural nutrients, fiber, and importance in herbal
medicine.

Aloe Vera growing in Container

Aloe Vera can be grown in our own gardens such as backyard, terrace,
and patio in pots or containers. It is the easiest way to get fresh and natural
Aloe Vera gel or juice. When planting Aloe Vera in a container use a
cactus potting mix as a medium to grow, or one can make own growing
medium by mixing equal parts of soil, sand, and gravel. After placing the
transplant in the container with a proper drainage hole, place a layer of
small rocks or pebbles around the base of the plant. After transplanting by
cutting the young shoot from the parent plant, it is recommended not to
water for a few days and let the roots recover from the damage. Watering
increases the chance of root decay or rot.
 Aloe Vera
Growing in Pots.
Scientific/botanical name of Aloe Vera
Aloebarbadensis Mill Aloe Vera Linn is the botanical or scientific name
and the plant comes from the family Liliaceae.

Other names of Aloe Vera

The plant is also called in other popular names such as Aloe, Indian Alces,
Kumari, Chirita, Gawarpaltra, Barbados Aloe, Curacao Aloe, Korphad,
LuHui.

Aloe Vera in Indian Languages

• ·Gujarati –કુ ં વરપાઠુ(Kunvarapāṭhu).
• Malayalam – Kumari / അേലായര (alēāyara).
• Telugu – కలబంద (kalabanda).
• Kannada – !␣ೂೕ%␣ಸರ (Lōḷesara).
• Bengali – Ghritkumari.
• Tamil – Katralai.
• Hindi – Ghritkumari.
• Bangla – ঘ"তক%মারী (Ghr̥takumārī).
• Marathi – कोरफड (Kōraphaḍa).
• Punjabi – ਕਵ#ਰਗ&ਦ( (Kavānragadaḻa).

Aloe Vera Varieties / Aloe Vera Cultivars

It is observed there are somewhere around 350 types of Aloe Vera in the
Aloaceae family. The different cultivars exist in size, color and growing
habits. In India the commercially important sub-species are Aloe
barbedensis, A. chinensis, A. perfoliata, A. vulgaris, A indica, A. littoralis
and A. abyssinica. IC111271, IC111269, IC111280 etc

Climate and Soil requirement for Aloe Vera

growing
Aloe grows well in various soils and climatic conditions. Either hot humid
and dry climate or dry sandy soils, Aloe Vera plants are well adapted in
growing. However, it is intolerant to frost and low winter temperature. The
plants are highly sensitive to water stagnation and prone to disease
infestation when growing under shady conditions. Plants can be grown in a
wide variety of soils from sandy soil to loamy soils. Aloe plants are
tolerant to high pH and in high Sodium and Potassium salt soils. In well-
drained medium fertile soils with organic compost, the growth rate is faster
with higher foliage.

Land preparation in Aloe Vera growing

Land must be prepared free from weeds and the soil slightly acidic. The
fields are moderately fertile and fast draining. The land is plowed and cross
plowed two to three times. Incorporate farmyard manure in the last
plowing. At 45 to 60cm, ridges and furrows are formed in the fields.

Propagation in Aloe Vera growing

Propagation through seeds is difficult. Seedlings are normally raised from
root suckers or rhizome cuttings. For propagation, medium sized roots
suckers are taken by dug out from the parent plant at the base and directly
planted in the farmland without damaging the parent plant roots. In the
case of rhizome cutting, the rhizome in the soil is dug out about at least
five to six centimeter having two to three nodes on each of them. The
cuttings are rooted in containers or special beds at the   nursery   for
sprouting. When the seedlings or young sprouts are ready they are
transplanted to the main farmland or field. About 14000 to 14500 seedlings
are raised in a nursery to be planted for an acre land or about 35,000
seedlings for one hectare.

Spacing in Aloe Vera growing

In commercial farming, Aloe Vera seedlings are planted in pits of 13 to 15
cm depth. The suckers or young seedlings are planted at a spacing of about
60 cm x 50 cm apart. By following this spacing dimension a grower can
plant about 12,500 saplings in an acre land.
Aloe Vera Farming.
Irrigation in Aloe Vera growing
Proper drainage is more important than irrigation in Aloe Vera growing as
the plants are sensitive to waterlogging and slightly tolerant to drought
conditions. Irrigation must be provided after immediate planting. Light
irrigation during summer is enough for a good harvest.

Manures and Fertilizers in Aloe Vera growing

Aloe Vera responds well to manures and fertilizers. During land
preparation and in the last plow 15 tonnes per hectare of well rotted
farmyard manure is applied. Every year the same dose of farmyard manure
(FMY) must be incorporated in the subsequent years. Besides FYM,
application of 50 kilograms of Nitrogen, 50 Kilogram of Phosphorous and
50 kilograms of Potassium must be done as a basal dose.

Intercultural operations in Aloe Vera growing

Effective weed management is a critical step for successful xxx
production. Weeds compete for light, nutrients, water thereby interfere in
yield. Weeds can be controlled either by cultural control methods
(transplant seedlings free of weeds) or mechanical control methods
(mowing, disking, plowing or hand pulling of weeds).2-3 hand hoeing and
weeding is recommended to break the surface crust for better aeration and
water absorption.

Pests and diseases in Aloe Vera growing

Aloe Vera can be infested with various insects and pests and can be
controlled with special care as Aloe Vera juice is directly taken from the
leaves as medicine. Clean cultivation with regular intercultural operations
and need-based irrigation must be taken for healthy crop growth. Protect
the plants with organic raw garlic juice, neem oil (10,000 ppm) of two to
three milliliter per liter gives good results.

Leaf spot disease is caused by fungus. Leaf spot disease will affect the
yield and quality of the gel. The disease can be controlled by spraying
fungicides available at the local nursery stores as prescribed.
Signs of sick Aloe Vera plant growing
• Too much sunshine will make leaves get a suntan and the
leaves turn brown.
• Too much shade will make leaves lie flat instead of upright.
• Too little water will make the plant use its own water resources
thereby the leaves turn thin and curled.
• Too much fluorine or chlorine in the water will make the tips of
plant leaves turn brown and dry up.
• Too much water, too much shade, and too much fertilizer will
slow down Aloe Vera plant growth.

Harvesting in Aloe Vera growing

The thick fleshy leaves are ready for harvest starts after eight months of
planting. A sharp knife is used for harvesting the leaves from the plant
base. Grower can expect maximum yield from the second year of planting
and for about four to five years of good yield could be harvested. Three
harvests can be taken in a year by removing three to four leaves from each
plant that are two and more years old. Harvesting must be taken in the cool
times of the day usually morning or evening. The cut leaves are
regenerated from the scar. The side suckers are separated from the parent
plant and can be used as planting material or can be sold.

Yield in Aloe Vera growing

At the rate of 12 leaves harvested from each plant per year, a grower can
expect as high as 50 to 55 tonnes of thick fleshy leaves per hectare. 50% of
the plant suckers could be sold out annually.

Economics in Aloe Vera growing

For a hectare of Aloe Vera growing will incur an expenditure of about
1,20,000 rupees. A grower can expect a yield of about 11 tonnes of crop
per hectare and the expected amount of the yield would be 3,50,000
rupees. A grower can almost expect thrice the amount he invested.
Removing the invested amount, the grower will easily gain a profit twice
the invested amount in a year per hectare.

Marketing of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera and its products have much demand locally and in distant
markets because of its health benefits and can be marketed locally and
exported directly or by the marketing agency. The demand for Aloe Vera
products has increased in Europe, North America, and the Middle East
because of the increase in health awareness in these regions. Marketing in
medicinal plants is very important even though the demand is high,
commercial growers must pre-arrange marketing facility before starting,
unlike food crop which has universal demand.

Health Benefits  of  Aloe Vera growing

As an herbal medicine, Aloe Vera is been used for centuries. Much
research is going on this medical herb and so far it is found the herb
contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes, high water content, and fatty
acids which are used in a wide range of remedy products. Because of its
skin healing properties, it is vastly used as the primary product in the
cosmetic industry. Some of the additional benefits are as follows:

• It soothes rashes and skin irritations.

• For treating burns.
• Used in moisturizer for skin, hair, and scalp
• For treating constipation.
• Helps in digestion.
• Boosts immune system.
• Used to reduce inflammation and provides antioxidants.

Aloe Vera growing tips

• While planting or transplanting cut the side shoots without
damaging parent plant.
• The plant needs adequate sunlight and warmth.
 • Aloe Vera needs well-drained soils.
• Leaves may rot when in contact with the soil.
• Cover the soil with gravel or pebbles, white stones are
recommended as they reflect warmth from the sun to the plant base.
• After planting do not water for the first few days, water
whenever the soil is dry during the growing season.
• The plant does not need fertilizer, if you want to then go with
low in N, K and high in P once in a year.
The world is heavily into ‘organic’ nowadays, due to the fear of acquiring all
manner of illnesses, conditions or diseases via the usage of chemical-laden
drugs, cosmetics, inorganically grown food, etc. Therefore, if you were keen to
enter the world of business and trade, you would do well to launch an Aloe Vera
farming business. Apart from being a super food laden with minerals and
vitamins, this plant is useful as an antibiotic and anti-fungal medicine too. Huge
business opportunity is here, you have to follow a profitable business plan in
order to achieve success in this business. In this article, I have crafted important
information and business plan sample on how to start aloe vera farming
business in India.

Commercial Plants
Now, several varieties of Aloe Vera grow across the globe.

• However, only certain species are great for the commercial arena. They
include IEC 111271, IEC 111269, IC111280, AL-1, etc.
• If you reside in India, you might consult the National Botanical and Plant
Genetic Resource associated with the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR).
Take a Loan/Subsidy
Every kind of business, whether big or small, requires an initial investment.

• If you are not able to handle the finances on your own, you may take help
from governmental agencies.
• They are always ready to help micro-, small- and medium-scale
enterprises with interest-free loans or subsidies on loan amounts.
• In India, the Khadi Gramodyog provides ready assistance too.

An Ideal Climatic Conditions for Aloe

Vera Farming
• Check if your region offers a dry climate with minimal rainfall or a warm
humid one.
• If the answers are in the affirmative, your plants will grow well.
• Wherever the annual rainfall remains between 50 mm and 300 mm, Aloe
Vera plants are bound to flourish!
• Aloe Vera plants cannot tolerate extremely cool conditions.
• They cannot survive in ‘frosty’ weather or in winter.

Selecting the Land

You do not require vast tracts of land to grow these plants. A two-acre field
should suffice in the initial stages.

• The soil may be sandy (as in the coastal regions) or loamy (as on the
plains).
 • Even well drained, black cotton soils prove to be highly suitable. These
heavy soils with medium fertility encourage rapid growth.
• Aloe Vera plants are not sensitive to the high presence of potassium or
sodium salts in the soil.
• They are capable of tolerating a higher pH (8.5), unlike many other
plants.
• Whatever be the type of soil present on your land, it should not allow
water to stagnate.
• In the absence of water logging, Aloe Vera plants exhibit higher foliage.
• It would help to have your land at a slight height from the ground level.
This will prevent the stagnation of rainwater.

Preparing the Land

It would be ideal to schedule your Aloe Vera farming prior to the monsoons, if
in India. In other words, you should plow the soil before the beginning of the
rainy season.

• Ensure that your plowing is so thorough that the soil particles appear fine
and well separated from one another.
• It is imperative to keep this soil well drained too.
• Maintaining furrows and ridges should make the field ideal for plantation.
• Test the pH and the salt contents of the soil. The former should be around
8.5, while the latter should be in the higher range.
• Would you like to increase the fertility of the soil? Well, then, go in for 10
to 15 tons of farmyard manure per hectare.
• Do the same thereafter, every subsequent year.
• Keep using compost throughout every year.
 • Then again, you may opt for a ratio of 50:50:50 kg per hectare of sodium,
phosphorus and potassium salts, to serve as a basal dose.
• You must keep the soil well irrigated, but not overfed with water.
• The plants crave for water immediately after they ground themselves
firmly into the soil, as well as, throughout the summer season.
• Their succulence helps them to survive in ‘waterless’ conditions during
the winter season.

Propagation of Aloe Vera Plants

Aloe Vera plants do not produce seeds for planting directly into the soil.
Instead, you must propagate them.

• When you observe the parent plant carefully, you should be able to
observe some ‘baby’ plants growing from it.
• These are the offshoots or offsets, commonly known as Aloe Pups.
• They share the same root system as the parent plant does.
• Whenever you see that the Pup has grown to one-fifth the size of its
parent, or has a few sets of leaves sprouting from it, you may remove it.
• Examine it carefully, remove the dirt around the base, and decide the ideal
place for separating it from the parent plant.
• The Pup should exhibit a complete root system, after you detach it.
• Do use a clean knife, for you do not want your ‘baby’ to become
contaminated!
• Plant this Pup in a mixture of potting soil and sand.
• Water it only after a week.
• When it is of the right size, move it to the field.
• Another method is to dig out the underground rhizome.
• Cut it to a length of 12 to 15 cm.
 • Ensure that this stem has two or three nodes on it, at least.
• Place it in a sand bed, similar to the placement of a root in soil.
• Alternatively, grow it in a container.
• When sprouts appear, take out the plant and allot it an appropriate place
in your field.
• You may use root suckers too, instead of the rhizome, by digging them
out from the parent plant.
• Plant these root suckers, such that the separation lies in the 50 x 45 cm
range.
• Whatever you use, ensure that two-thirds of the propagated plant remains
underground.

Protecting the Plants

Aloe Vera plants have their own enemies.

• One is the Mealy Bug, wherein the leaves become spotted. This is a
fungal disease.
• Once a week, spray 0.2% dithane M-45 onto the plants.
• Spraying of an aqueous solution of 0.2% of Malathion and 0.1%
parathion keeps unwanted plants away.
• You may remove the weeds manually too, during the first year.
• During subsequent years, you may adhere to two weeding sessions and
light hoeing throughout the year.
• Keep the soil healthy via earthing up, spading, etc.

Harvest your Plants

Wait for eight months or so, and see the results! They should be excellent,
provided you have followed all the instructions to a T! True, the harvesting is
labor-intensive, but well worth the effort!

• You will know that the time is exactly right, when you view fleshy and
thick leaves all over the field.
• You may harvest the plants thrice in a year.
• You cannot use machines or tools for harvesting; it has to be manual in
nature.
• It is important that the broken rhizomes remain in the soil, for re-
sprouting.
• Then again, you must remove just three or four leaves from each plant,
during the harvest season.
• This is for allowing the leaves to regenerate from these scars.
• Conduct the harvest only during the morning and evening hours.
During the first year, you may witness a yield of 50 or 55 tons of fleshy and
thick Aloe Vera leaves from a plantation measuring one hectare. In fact, even if
you obtain a conservative 40 tons, it is good. Cover up the so-called loss by
selling the side suckers from 50% to 60% of your plants every year. You need
have no fears for the next four years, for the yield is only bound to become
better and better. On an average, two acres of land yield 8,000 to 10,000 kg of
Aloe Vera plants.

Pricing and Profit in Aloe Vera Farming

Business
Target the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and herbal products establishments via
your marketing strategies. In fact, you may contact every company in person,
carrying along a few samples with you. At the same time, promote and sell your
plants online through shopping giants like Amazon, Flipkart, etc. You may
create your own website too, for reaching out to consumers directly, without
needing intermediaries.

You should be able to earn anywhere up to twenty thousand rupees, or even

more, for every ton of Aloe Vera, in the Indian marketplace. Thus, even with a
minimal investment of 40,000 to 50,000 rupees at the initial stage, you stand to
walk away with a huge profit, year after year. If you are in India, lakhs of
rupees should work their way into your pockets.

You may opt to sell the leaves directly. Currently, the Indian marketplace is
ready to pay anywhere between eight to ten lakhs of rupees for 40 to 45 tons of
thick and succulent leaves! Think of how much you can earn two years later,
when the yield goes up to 60 tons or so!

In case, you opt to process the plants for juice, without going in for any brand
name, you stand to earn over 20-lakh rupees as annual gains! You may even
purchase more Aloe Vera leaves from other farmers and process them at your
processing plant. This should fetch you handsome profits too!