Forest Deptt promotes cultivation of non-itching kewach
   Date :09-Sep-2020

O P Agrawal_1  
 Vrikshamitra awardee O P Agrawal showing kewach in Chandgi Ram Agro Biodiversity Farm Ambikapur.
 
 
By Abhishek Kumar :
 
RAIPUR,
 
Forest Department, Government of Chhattisgarh is promoting cultivation of non-itching kewach, which contains high protein, in State. Vrikshamitra national awardee O P Agrawal has provided seeds of kewach in large quantity to Forest Department, Government of Chhattisgarh for cultivation of kewach in tribal dominated Bastar and Surguja regions. Speaking to The Hitavada, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) Surguja circle A B Minj confirmed that Vrikshamitra national awardee O P Agrawal has provided around 120 kgs seeds to the Forest Department for cultivation. The seeds of kewach have been cultivated in forests and farms in Surguja and Bastar regions, he added. Talking to The Hitavada, Professor of Entomology Department of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) Raipur Dr Shashank Shekhar Shaw said that Kewach, also known as velvet bean, can be utilised to overcome malnutrition in the state.
 
Kewach can play an important role in eradication of malnutrition in tribal dominated Surguja and Bastar divisions of Chhattisgarh. Kewach could be used by people in their diet to overcome malnutrition to some extent. Kewach has medicinal value and it is being used by pharmaceutical companies for medicinal purpose for making medicines which are used for treating parkinson’s disease. Around 25 to 30 percent protein is found in Kewach and because of high protein value it supplements protein and thereby malnutrition problem can be solved upto some extent. Kewach is a hardy crop and it can be cultivated with fewer efforts in various agro-climatic conditions.
 
No pest and diseases are found in this crop, said Professor Dr Shaw. The seeds of Kewach are being purchased by the Forest Department at around Rs 70 per kilogramme. Tribals can generate their income by selling seeds of kewach to the Forest Department. Beside, Vrikshamitra awardee Agrawal has provided 10 kg seeds of kewach to Horticulture Department Ambikapur. Agrawal said that the purpose of providing seeds to the Forest Department is to motivate tribal people to cultivate it in their fields and use it in their diet. Agrawal has been working for environment protection for the last four decades.
 
He has shown the cultivation of Kewach by making it beneficial. Through his efforts in the last two years, Agrawal has made available the collected seeds to the Forest Department for distribution in Surguja and Bastar regions, so that people can earn income by planting it on vacant land. Traditional Kewach has itching. The kewach identified by O P Agrawal has no itching property. The green pod of the kewach can be eaten as a vegetable like a bean.