Research Note: Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Kutki): Exploring the Cultivation Potential in Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21276/pt.2026.v3.i1.11Keywords:
Picrorhiza kurroa, Kutki, Conservation, Cultivation, Yield, CommerceAbstract
With a limited range of alpine and sub-alpine vegetation in the Himalayas, Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki) is an endangered species. Due to its limited range of distribution, small population size, and high value, it is one of the most sought-after medicinal plants in the world and was listed as one of the 37 species with the highest priority for conservation and cultivation in the Western Himalayas. Due to its growing demand in the herbal medicine sector, growing kutki can be a lucrative endeavor for farmers and business owners. The Uttarakhand government is encouraging the state to grow medicinal plants. In Uttarakhand, the government has also developed several policies to support the conservation and cultivation of significant medicinal plants. The Herbal Research and Development Institute (HRDI) in Mandal, Gopeshwar (Chamoli), is the state's nodal agency for the medicinal plant industry. It is also developing cutting-edge initiatives to support the cultivation of different species of medicinal plants, which is raising public awareness and encouraging an increasing number of people to adopt the practice. From 2022 to 2025, the kutki crop was studied in seven blocks of the Chamoli district: Dewal, Nanda Nagar (Ghat), Joshimath, Gairsain, Tharali, and Dasholi. The average yield of kutki in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, was 865.24 kg/ha. The blocks of District Chamoli, viz., Dewal (349.60 qt.), Nanda Nagar (77.01 qt.), Gairsain (12.40 qt.), Joshimath (10.70 qt.), Dasholi (8.9 qt.), and Tharali (8.45 qt.), had the highest kutki production in the Chamoli district in 2022–2025. Currently, the average yield of kutki (865.24 kg/ha) is higher than previously reported. The work done by organizations such as HRDI is commendable, but to ensure the crop's sustainability, more organizations should step up and provide funding for medicinal plant projects.
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