Bitter gourd is one of the most promising crops for Indian farmers. If your farm is located near a district market or you have links with exporters, this crop can make you a millionaire for sure. In this article, we are discussing information on the crop and also adding tips that will help you ahead of other farmers in making money. So do read it carefully, till the end. You can download a useful file in your phone as a PDF file too.

Life Around Bitter Gourd

Karela, Karle, Pavakkai, Pavakka, Kakarakaya, and Hagalkai are regional names for bitter gourd, while in botany it is called Momordica charantia. On the one hand, it is a nutritious fruit vegetable that supplies vitamins A and C, nutrients like potassium, iron, and zinc, and on the other hand, it cleans your gut with its rich fibers. Potassium present in bitter gourd helps to control blood pressure and prevent muscle cramps. 

It is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. In Ayurveda, it is recommended to be used for diabetes, malaria, and cancer.

Although some people may like to eat it raw or drink its juice, most people like to eat it steamed,fried, or stuffed. Bitter gourd has its own place in modern wellness preparations such as soups and smoothies. Some people pickle it in vinegar, spices, and herbs, and classic food lovers eat it as deep-fried crispy chips that are sliced, coated with batter and breadcrumbs.

Can Indian farmers increase yield?

Chinese farmers are currently producing nearly double the quantity of karela compared to their Indian counterparts, who generate 10 lakh tonnes of fresh karela. Indian farmers have significant potential to enhance yields, especially considering that smaller countries like Myanmar, Thailand, and Tanzania are
also producing 3 lakh tonnes of karela. 

To optimize karela production on limited land, Indian farmers need to emphasize the importance of adopting high-demand varieties and implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). These practices include refining cultivation methods, ensuring effective nutrition for gourd vines, and employing residue-free pest management methods. For increased profitability, farmers should explore value-added bitter gourd products, collaborate through farmer producer companies, embrace the farm-to-fork concept, engage in contract farming, and seek government support while integrating advanced technologies.

Interested farmers can list their products on ResetAgri.in. For further information, please contact us at info@resetagri.in. We are here to assist you and provide support in value addition and branding initiatives.

Please continue reading part II