Butterfly Pea Cultivation in India: Uses, Benefits, and Practical Insights
Discover butterfly pea cultivation in India, its uses in food, medicine, and cosmetics, and practical tips for farmers and enthusiasts.
The butterfly pea, whose scientific name is Clitoria ternatea, is a blue-flowering plant that grows readily throughout India. This plant is very adaptive and can easily grow in tropical and subtropical conditions. This makes it a great choice for farmers who are looking for ways to cultivate it sustainably. Another reason for its popularity is its uses and benefits.
In the Indian context, the butterfly pea farm has attracted attention not only for its ornamental flowers but also for its uses in the economy and medicinal values.
Why Butterfly Pea Cultivation is Popular in India
Butterfly pea is a plant that grows in well-drained soil and is easy to maintain. It is suitable to be grown in different parts of Indian states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. It can be cultivated in gardens and farms and is also pest and drought-resistant.
Farmers will also derive benefits from the short growing period of this plant, as it takes flowers only 60 to 70 days to emerge from seeds. This will enable farmers to approach multiple harvests. The butterfly pea flowers are very versatile plants. They have various uses, such as preparing herbal teas, natural food colouring, and cosmetic products. For instance, the herbal tea extracted from butterfly pea flowers is prized for its antioxidants, boosting mental performance and relieving stress.
Key Uses of Butterfly Pea
| Use Category | Examples & Benefits | Notes |
| Culinary | Tea, food colouring, and desserts | Changes colour with pH |
| Medicinal | Memory enhancement, stress relief | Rich in antioxidants |
| Cosmetic | Hair and skin care products | Improves hair strength, skin glow |
| Agricultural | Soil enrichment, nitrogen-fixing | Improves soil fertility |
The flowers of the butterfly pea plant are used in cocktails, desserts, and other foods to add a blue colour that changes to purple in the presence of an acid, such as lemon juice.
Cultivation Tips
- Soil Preparation: Well-drained loamy soil with a pH of 6.5 to
- Sowing: Direct sowing or transplanting seedlings in the early monsoon.
- Watering: There should be moderate watering and no
- Pruning: Flowers are encouraged by pruning.
- Harvesting: Flowers are harvested 2 to 3 times a week for optimal production.
Conclusion
The rearing of the butterfly pea in India provides a great opportunity for farmers, herbal businessmen, as well as gardeners. The plant has numerous applications in different dishes for consumption, as well as in medicine. It does not require a lot of care when being grown. Therefore, the plant can both generate income for farmers as well as provide a natural means of health through herbs.
