Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj convened a consultation meeting on ‘Cactus Plantation and its Economic Usage’ on December 8 in New Delhi.
- Fourteen experts of various countries like, Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, South Africa and India also attended the meeting through VC.
About Cactus
- Cactus is a Xerophytic Plant which though grows relatively at a slower pace has an immense potential as stated above.
- Cacti are almost exclusively New World plants. This means that they are native only in North America, South America, and the West Indies.
- Cactuses are known for their nutrients as well as their medicinal value. Both cactus pads and cactus fruit can help fight infections and ease the symptoms of anything from hangovers to high cholesterol.
- Both the cactus pad and the cactus fruit are high in fiber, which can lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Cactuses contain vitamins C, E, A, iron, calcium, and more. This wide range of nutrients and more can help reduce inflammation in the body. Moreover, it will help in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the country as well.
- India has approximately 30% of its geographical area under the category of degraded land. DoLR has been mandated to restore degraded lands through its Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY).
- Plantations of various kinds constitute one of the activities which help in restoration of degraded lands.
- Various options for taking up Cactus plantation on degraded land should be explored for realising the benefits of its usage for bio-fuel, food, fodder and bio-fertiliser production for the larger benefit of the country.
About Xerophytes
- Xerophytes (dry + plant) are plants which are able to live in very dry places. When water is abundant, their rate of transpiration is about the same as other plants. However in prolonged drought, they have several survival mechanisms which make them successful.
- Some examples of Xerophytes are; cacti, pineapple and some Gymnosperm plants.
