Ankur Patwardhan

Nothapodytes foetida (Wight) Sleumer is globally endangered tree species endemic to the Western Ghats, India. It is threatened by the over harvest of the wood for extracting Camptothecin (CPT), which is used in the treatment of cancer and HIV-I. As a consequence of fragmentation of its habitat and overexploitation, the population of this species has declined by 50-80%. This project explores the use of traditional techniques to cultivate the species, developed by local ‘bare-foot botanists’ and suggests optimal harvesting scheme for achieving maximum CPT yield.

Seeds that were collected during field visits across northern western ghats were subjected to various seed treatments. The proposed propagation method involves pre-sowing cow dung slurry treatment. Seeds are shade dried for a week and later soaked in fresh cow dung slurry (35-40 °C) for 24 hrs. These are sown in well-prepared mother beds. We recorded 70-80% germination in 30 days in case of treated seeds as against 30-35% germination in 60 days achieved by conventional methods. The highest germination was observed with the seed coat removed seeds. Experimentation regarding vegetative propagation trials is underway.

We have set-up a nursery at our field site. Experimentation regarding various propagation trials etc. are conducted over there with the help of community personnel. In collaboration with the Forest Department (FD), we have started and identified 'plus specimens' that are potential sources of the Camptothecin alkaloid.

The publication of another article in 'Agro-van', a local daily dedicated to agriculture and forestry (India's first agro daily), showing how their efforts have reached the grass roots.

Over 200 phone calls today (from different areas of Maharashtra state) from farmers and private cultivators asking for booklet that we have prepared. Read the article at http://www.agrowon.com/agro/agrowon/rightframe.html

Read about Ankur's latest project http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/ankur_patwardhan