Stevia farming:A moneymaking venture for farmers

Abstract

India stands first in terms of population, along with rise in population, it also has world’s largest diabetic population. Major driving force for diabetes is linked with consumption of sugar or high glycemic rich foods. Stevia is a natural sweetener having nutritional, therapeutic and industrial importance. Stevia is popularly called as ‘methi tulsi’ by Indian farmers due to its sweet essence. Stevia leaf contains more than 20 steviol glycosides, such as stevioside and rebaudioside, which are 200–300 times sweeter than sucrose. It is widely used as zero calorie sweetener and a substitute for sugar all over the world. Wide range of climatic conditions of our country offers great scope for commercial cultivation of stevia for farming community as it is a perennial crop and gives high returns with B:C ratio of 1.86. Realizing the importance of stevia in global market, Government of India is also promoting this crop by providing technological support and subsidies.