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| Raghavan Vaidyar, Madhuvanam, Kakkur, Kozhikode |
Combining the dual roles of ayurvedic practitioner and cultivator of medicinal plants is Raghavan Vaidyar of Kakkur, Kozhikode, who has been practicing both for the past 40 years. And Madhuvanam, his herbal garden, is an extension of his father’s effort that began quite long ago.
The herbarium is atop a hill, interspersed with other cultivation like coconut, arecanut, pepper etc. Together with these grow ‘pathimukham’, ‘ramacham’, ‘kacholam’, ‘adalodakam’ etc. Instead of saying what all herbs are there in the garden, it would be easier to ask whatever is not present.
Many of the herbs are wild varieties grown in the forests. Vaidyar has taken care to provide suitable environment to these plants. Water for the garden is pumped from a pond at the top of the hill.
Besides trees and herbs, the garden is the home of bees also. There are porcupines and ‘veruku’ are also maintained there. Vaidyar had obtained license from appropriate authority to keep them for the purpose of the dispensary. Cows, which provide milk and dung are maintained like members of the family.
Vaidyar is averse to using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Ash, compost and cowdung are the ususal manure for coconuts. Some skeptics wonder whether growing herbs is detrimental to the output of coconuts and other cash crops. According to him, the result has been quite the contrary. The yield had only increased, thanks to the spill over water from the irrigation of herbs.
Raghavan Vaidyar is ready to help in a limited way, those wishing to start a herbal garden of their own.
Courtesy:
Dr.Joby Thomas, Janapadham, April 2007
Contributed by: Administrator
