Conservation of Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki) (Ecology)
Conservation of Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki) (Ecology)
Why In News:
Farmers in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district are adopting a sustainable stolon-based cultivation method for Kutki, an endangered Himalayan medicinal herb, helping conserve the species while generating rural livelihoods.
Source: The Hindu, Page 4, 24 July 2026 - 'Himachal farmers pioneer sustainable cultivation of endangered herb'
About the Herb: Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutki)
A high-value medicinal plant native to alpine and sub-alpine Himalayas (2,700–4,500 m).
Found in regions of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.
Used in Ayurvedic formulations, with demand in the herbal and pharmaceutical industries.
Traditionally harvested by uprooting, which led to severe population decline.
Key Conservation Innovation
Stolon-based harvesting method: only side stems are collected, leaving the main plant intact.
Ensures regeneration and perennial cultivation, reducing pressure on wild populations.
Developed by the Himalayan Research Group (HRG) under DST initiatives.
Conservation Status
Saussurea costus is classified Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
It is listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), regulated international trade (not banned, but controlled).
Key Facts for Prelims
The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), under the Ministry of AYUSH, promotes conservation, cultivation and sustainable use of medicinal plants, including threatened species.
Himachal Pradesh is the first State in India to offer a Minimum Support Price for naturally grown crops under its natural farming programme, encouraging farmers towards sustainable, chemical-free cultivation, including of high value herbs.
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the National Biodiversity Authority regulate access to and use of India's biological resources, including medicinal plants.
CITES is an international agreement, in force since 1975, that classifies species into three Appendices based on the degree of protection required.