Ten years down the line people of Bheemasandra were worried about their failed agricultural produce. This was the result of the entry of treated sewage water into the Bheemasandra Lake. They were majorly cultivating wheat in about more than fifty acres of land. People failed to get desired quality and quantity of wheat using the treated sewage water. Bheemasandra village is the classic example of how farmers adapt to the changes that are inevitable. Farmers found out only Baje could survive in the treated waste water with very high concentrations of Nitrogen and Phosphates. Farmers have shifted to Baje cultivation for a decade. Baje is an expensive herb used for medicine. This wise choice of farmers resulted in converting the shit into a costly medicine.
Baje plantation at Bheemasandra
Haven’t heard of Baje?
The above plant is locally called Baje and it has various names like Vacha and Vasambu. In English it is called as Sweet Flag and scientifically it is referred as Acorus Calamus. Bheemasandra village is cultivating acres and acres of Baje in the area behind the lake. Baje is a medicinal plant which was used as an indigenous medicine. As an infant even I was given Baje when I had digestive problems. Vacha is Baje in Sanskrit which means to speak. In Ayurveda Baje is used to treat digestive disorders, stimulate brain functioning, Asthma, speech impediments, voice clarity, hair care, sedative, cold related problems etc. In recent times Baje has undergone various researches on its health benefits. Countries like Germany, Austria, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Swedan and Switzerland have recognized the health benefits of Baje and are using it in their pharmaceutical industries. Thus, Baje has gained an export market in recent decades. The local farmers anticipating the good returns started cultivating Baje using the treated waste water. Isn't it a smart choice of the farmers?
How to cultivate Baje?
Baje is grown in wet and mushy lands. Baje uses flood irrigation for its cultivation. Baje is a ten month crop. The technology of its cultivation is the same as wheat cultivation. The land must be ploughed thoroughly and should be watered for two days. Baje looks very similar to ginger which is bought from the market and planted like wheat on the ploughed land. Quickly grass grows from the planted Baje and of course weeds are removed for twice and manure will be used. When the grass grows up to the desired size indicating the harvest is ready, farmers chop off the grass to its root and take out the Baje which would be of half arm length. Now the task of the farmers is to remove the rhizomes, clean the Baje and cut into small pieces of three to four inches.
Baje
What about the market for Baje?
Farmers will get a good price every year for their Baje produce. The price varies from three to nine thousand per quintal based on the market price and quality of the produce. Last year people sold their Baje for nine thousand per quintal. It can be very well said that farmers are happy with the price of Baje which is not very uncertain. Farmers would sell their produce on their land itself to the merchants. Few Baje farmers who produce more quantities of Baje will have a contract with the traders in APMC yard in Tumakuru city that they would sell their produce only to their loyal traders. This contract would fetch more return on to the farmers.
Farmers learnt about Baje by experimenting growing Baje using wastewater. One farmer’s good returns inspired the other farmers to cultivate Baje and thus farmers sought out there worries themselves. Now, eighty percent of the treated waste water is used to cultivate Baje in about sixty acres.
