Reviving Kutki: Sustainable Cultivation of an Endangered Himalayan Medicinal Herb
Context
- Farmers in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, have successfully adopted the cultivation of Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa), a high-value Himalayan medicinal herb facing extinction in the wild.
- The initiative promotes sustainable harvesting practices, reducing pressure on natural populations while creating new livelihood opportunities for mountain communities.
Key Highlights
- Instead of uprooting the entire plant, cultivators now harvest only the side stolons, allowing the mother plant to survive and regenerate naturally.
- The cultivation model was developed by the Himalayan Research Group under a DST–DBT supported initiative and has expanded into the country’s largest private-land Kutki cultivation cluster, involving nearly 180 farmers.
- Kutki naturally occurs in alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems at elevations of 2,700 – 4,500 metres and is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- The species is included in CITES Appendix II, permitting international trade only under regulated export provisions to prevent overexploitation.
Key Concepts
Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa)
- A valuable Himalayan medicinal herb traditionally used for treating liver disorders and immune-related ailments.
- Wild populations have declined primarily due to unsustainable harvesting.
IUCN Red List
- A global assessment system that categorises species according to their risk of extinction, such as Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered.
CITES Appendix II
- Covers species that are not yet critically threatened but could become so if trade remains uncontrolled.
- International trade is allowed only under strict regulatory permits.
Stolon
- A horizontal creeping stem capable of producing roots and new plants at its nodes, enabling vegetative propagation.
Way Forward
- Replicate the sustainable cultivation model for other threatened medicinal plant species across the Himalayan region.
- Integrate biodiversity conservation with farmer-based livelihood programmes to reduce dependence on wild harvesting.
- Strengthen CITES-compliant trade regulation, certification mechanisms and equitable benefit-sharing to ensure long-term conservation and sustainable use.