Orissa's Fragrant Floral King –Kewda Is in Doldrums

Abstract

Kewda or 'Ketaki Viphala' (Pandanus odoratissimus) is an extract from the male flowers of a screw-pine tree. This is used to flavor foods and for Ayurveda healing. Although Ganjam district of Orissa produces around 90 per cent of the kewra of the country, Orissa is yet to tap the economic prospect. There are no units to produce the higher-end products derived from the Kewda flower extracts in Ganjam district. Kewda flower producers in Ganjam district are worried over the continuous decrease in the demand of the kewda extract while the kewda flower production is on the rise. This paper is an effort to find out the amount of kewda production and the major causes of decrease in kewda extract and suggest some steps to enrich the traditional occupation of floriculture prevalent in Ganjam district.