Imphal, July 02: The Flower Valley Agro Tech Private Limited based at Hojai, Assam has offered Rs 1400/1500 per litre of Sambrei (Botanical name Patchouli) extract.

Sambrei is a herb used by every Manipuri women as a popular additive in chinghi (local and indigenous shampoo prepared with the water sieved from cleaned rice grain) for its aromatic properties.

Even today when shampoos of all varieties have flooded the market, a large majority of Manipuri women prefer Chinghi to these factory manufactured shampoos.

Even if the State is unable to provide Sambrei extract in liquid form, the private firm has asked for at least 30,000 kgs of Sambrei leaves every year.

This was conveyed to project co-ordinator of Manipur SFAC MS Khaidem during the Buyers'-Sellers' Meet held at NIRD Guwahati on June 20 under the aegis of the State Medicinal Plants Board Assam.

MS Khaidem informed that about 18,000 kgs of green Sambrei leaves are required to extract 100 litres of Sambrei oil.

At the rate proposed by the Flower Valley Agro Tech Private Limited, 100 litres of Sambrei extract would fetch Rs 1,40,000.Quality control scientist in-charge of the Alva Pharmaceutical Company, Bangaluru Dr Sreekumar had even proposed for signing an MoU with the State Medicinal Plant Board Manipur for supplying 100 litres of Sambrei extract every month.

To meet the demand, about 30 acres of land should be cultivated with Sambrei plants, MS Khaidem said.

So far, Sambrei plants have been planted in some areas of Leikinthabi under the initiative of the State Medicinal Plant Board and Manipur SFAC.

Moreover, a small distillation unit has also been installed there, he informed.

Further, all the machinery required for installing another distillation unit of 500 kg capacity at Takyelpat have also been procured.

Once the installation process is completed, Sambrei oil can be extracted in the State.

During the Buyers'-Sellers' Meet, representatives of various companies like Dabur, Himalaya, Emami etc offered to buy organic products like Geranium, Citronella, Turmeric and dry ginger from Manipur, conveyed MS Khaidem.

To facilitate buying and selling of medicinal and aromatic plants, the Manipur SFAC has launched its website www.sfacmanipur.com.

Comment