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Current IssueEditorial BoardOnline First ArticlesArchive

Full Research Article

Modification and Popularization of Improved Cultivation Practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) as Replacement Crop for Rice in Kharif Season for Red and Lateritic Belt of Birbhum District of West Bengal

P
Prabuddha Ray1,*
S
Subrata Mandal2
S
Sourav Mondal3
P
Palash Ankure4
1Discipline of Agricultural Extension, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.
2Discipline of Agronomy, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.
3Discipline of Plant Protection, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.
4Discipline of Farm Management, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: The significant presence of 13 (thirteen) numbers of the Community Development (CD) Blocks viz. Murarai-I, Murarai-II, Rampurhat-I, Rampurhat-II, Mayureswar-I, Muhammad Bazar, Suri-I, Suri-II, Dubrajpur, Khayrasole, Illambazar, Bolpur-Srniketan and Labpur of Birbhum District, where a considerable Red Lateritic soil situation with mainly Kharif Rice - fallow farming system along with predominantly mono-cropped Kharif Rice farming situation prevails, raises the ecological and economic concern of overwhelming dominance and continuance of cultivation of Rice in Kharif season. In this background, Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra introduced Ekangi as a crop of drought resistance capacity and totally rainfed, covering the fields within 3 months, preventing Soil erosion due to heavy rain or heavy wind, lowering soil water evaporation loss and maintaining the Soil Water table properly, is a potential crop with huge positive crop economics, can be utilized to replace Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situation of red lateritic zones.

Methods: Mainly comparative statistical analyses of the data from the study across all the front-line demonstration programmes on viz. Ekangi and newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672) in terms of economics viz. net return (Rs./ha) and B: C ratio were analysed.

Result: The present study clearly revealed the fact that the improved cultivation practices for the production of Ekangi as modified by the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra had huge economic potential over and above the newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, especially in the mono-cropped Kharif Rice farming situation prevailing in red lateritic zones of Birbhum District, West Bengal. The front-line demonstration (FLD) programmes in the last three (3) years, i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, clearly showed that Ekangi has a massive economic edge over three (3) newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672) in terms of economics viz. net return (Rs./ha) and B:C ratio. Ekangi enjoyed overwhelmingly higher net return (Rs./ha), ranging from Rs. 6,35,590.00/ha against Kharif Rice Var. Chandra (MTU-1153) in 2023-24 to Rs. 5,91,700.00/ha against kharif rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26 and higher B:C ratio over newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, ranging from a highest of 4.30 against Kharif Rice Var. Chandra (MTU-1153) in 2023-24 to 3.10 against Kharif Rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26.

INTRODUCTION

Sand / Aromatic Ginger also known as Ekangi in Vernacular Languages, especially in Bengali; Chandramula in Hindi; Kencur in Indonesian; Cekor in Malay or Inchmoh (local Khasi name) in Meghalaya [Techaprasan et al., 2010; Selvam, 2012; Biswas, 2020 and Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre, Eastern Region (RCFC-ER), National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India and Jadavpur University, Kolkata (2023)] is botanically known as Kaempheria galanga L., a perennial, stemless, monocotyledonous plant in the Zingiberaceae plant family with plant characteristics  of aromatic herb formed by thin, moderately branching roots growing from a tuberous stem. The plant is native to India and originated in East Asia (with special reference to Burma, now renamed as Myanmar). Worldwide, this plant is mainly cultivated in South-East Asia, South Asia and China. In India, Ekangi is being produced by the farmers and farm women of Karnataka, Kerala, now renamed as Keralam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The rhizome of Ekangi is fleshy, odorous and has a dull reddish-brown external skin with a delicate interior which is almost whitish to light yellowish with a tuberous tip, while the leaves are deep green to darkish green, radiating horizontally along with the ground layer (Selvam, 2012).
       
The compounds Ethyl-Cinnamate and Ethyl–P-Methoxycinnamate are the major bioactive constituents of Rhizome extracts of Ekangi that have been reported in Dichloromethane (Othman et al., 2006), Hexane (Yu et al., 2000) and Methanol (Huang et al., 2008) extracts. Nonglang et al., (2022) confirmed the presence and identification of various phytocompounds, with Ethyl P-Methoxycinnamate identified as the major active compound from the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) analysis of Rhizome extracts of Ekangi.
       
In evidence-based clinical medicine, K. galanga L. has been reported to possess different pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory (Sulaiman et al., 2008), anti-apoptotic and anti-carcinogenic activities (Liu et al., 2010), sedative effects (Ali et al., 2015) and wound healing activities (Shanbhag et al., 2006) due to presence of above noted major bioactive constituents of its Rhizome. War and Kayang (2022) also pointed out from their Study that extracted oil from the rhizomes of Ekangi has had the potential to control fungal phyto-pathogens and their associated growths.
       
The above-noted findings clearly point out the fact that the derivatives, extracts and essential oils, mainly from the Rhizomes of Ekangi, have wide-ranging application in pharmaceutical, perfumery, food and feed flavouring and folk medicine Sectors.
       
Ekangi as a cultivable crop is also remunerative because of the high market price value of its dry Rhizomes.  In 2016-17, the market price of Ekangi rhizomes was Rs.300.00 per Kilo Gram (Kg.), which was Rs.120.00 per Kg. in 2012-13 (Preetha et al., 2016). Apart from domestic market demand, this crop of Ekangi also has a fair export potential (Vincent et al., 1991). The price of essential oil extracted from Ekangi Rhizomes varied from US$600.00 to US$ 700.00 per Kg. in the international market in the early part of the 2000s (Chithra et al., 2005). According to market aggregator, Amazon (2026), the retail sale price of Rhizomes of Ekangi is Rs. 3,956.00 kg to Rs. 4,000.00/kg with up to 44 per cent discount, resulting into a discounted retail price of Rs. 2,217.72/kg to Rs. 2,217.84/kg. The wholesale market price of Ekangi Rhizomes varies from Rs. 200.00/kg to Rs. 450.00/kg (Exportersindia, 2026). As a result, the crop of Ekangi is being transformed into the status of commercial crop from restricted cultivation in localised tracts of West Bengal, due to a steady increase in market demand and a sustained rise in market price in recent years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Keeping the above noted factors in mind, the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati started its Research and Extension Works on Ekangi in 2013-14 with the following objectives:
1. Standardization of modified cultivation practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in kharif season for red and lateritic belt of Birbhum district in West Bengal.
2. Popularization of Ekangi as a potential crop for crop diversification efforts (replacing Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situation with water stress problem in red and lateritic belt).
3. Ensuring higher economic benefits for the farmers through increased net return and also increased B:C ratio.
 
Study area
 
Representative 38 (thirty eight) numbers of villages from 13 (Thirteen) numbers of the Community Development (CD) Blocks viz. Murarai-I, Murarai-II, Rampurhat-I, Rampurhat-II, Mayureswar-I, Muhammad Bazar, Suri-I, Suri-II, Dubrajpur, Khayrasole, Illambazar, Bolpur-Srniketan and Labpur of Birbhum District, where considerable red lateritic soil situation (Map 1) (Sonam, 2022) with mainly Kharif rice - fallow farming system along with predominantly mono-cropped Kharif Rice farming situation prevails were selected for Font Line Demonstration (FLD) Programmes on Ekangi and the said FLD programmes have been being conducted by the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra since 2015-16 till date.

Map 1: Geological map of Birbhum district.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, critically studied the established protocol of cultivation-production practices of Ekangi, as elaborated / noted / established by Kerala Agricultural University (2007). Scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra initiated On Station Trial (OST) for standardization of modified cultivation practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in kharif season for red and lateritic belt of chotanagpur plateau with special emphasis on Birbhum district in West Bengal in 2013-14 in its Medicinal Plants Garden. The trial concluded in 2014-15 with following Modified Package of Practices for cultivation of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in kharif season for red and lateritic belt of Chotanagpur Plateau with special emphasis on Birbhum district in West Bengal.
 
Basic technology
 
The basic technological package of practices for cultivation of Ekangi was derived from Kerala Agricultural University (2007).
 
Brief about the modified technology
 
• Totally rainfed.
• Time of planting: May-June with nor-wester.
• Seed rate:  7.5 q/ha (Rhizome of 4 cm length with 2 buds)
•  Land preparation: Only 2 cross ploughings with levelling.
•  Choice of land: Medium to upland with proper drainage facility in mono cropped area.
•  Planting: Spacing - 20 cms. × 20 cms.; Depth - 4 cms.
•  Seed treatment: Rhizomes to be dipped in solution of Trichoderma viridi (4 gm/kg seeds).
•  Manures and fertiliser: Well rotten farm yard manure (FYM) 10 ton/ha as basal.
• Top dressing at one month after planting: Urea 75 kg/ha, SSP- 600 kg/ha, MOP- 100 kg/ha.
•  Top dressing after three months of planting: Urea - 75 kg/ha.
•  Intercultural operations: - Weeding at 2nd. and 4th. Weeks after planting, then straw mulching.
•  Herbicide use: Spraying of Glyphosate @ 5 ml. /lt. of Water at 15 days after planting.
•  Harvesting: 6-8 months after planting.
•  Yield: 300-350 q/ha.
 
Uniqueness of the technology in comparison to existing ones: 
 
A. Saving of water, labour, time and energy:
 
(a) Totally rainfed, 80% water saving than Kharif rice.
(b) Total 200 labours per hectare saved.
(c) Time requirement is more but it is irrelevant as it is cultivated in mono-cropped area.
 
B. Conservation of soil
 
Soil conservation is more because after 3 months the crop covers the land with its broad leaves and protects the crops from erosion and nutrient loss.
 
C. Climate resilience capacity
 
It can withstand severe drought.
 
D. Biotic factor resilience
 
Cattle do not graze it.
 
E. Cost effectiveness including B: C ratio
 
The partner farmers of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, involved in the Kendra’s front-line demonstration (FLD) programmes on cultivation of Ekangi, also cultivated kharif rice variety Swarna (MTU-7029) side-by-side and earned a net return of Rs. 22,500.00 per ha in their rain fed mono cropped farming situation with a B:C ratio of 1.82 in the Year of 2015-16 (Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, 2016). Now after cultivating Ekangi the above-mentioned Partner Farmers and Farm Women achieved a B:C ratio of 6.03 with net return of Rs. 7,47,500.00 per ha in the year of 2015-16 (Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, 2016).
 
F. Natural resource conservation
 
Ekangi as a field crop is totally rain fed. So, there is no loss of water. Total rainwater is used for production. Crops cover the fields within 3 months, so no soil erosion occurs due to heavy rain or heavy wind. Evaporation loss is lowered down from the area under cultivation of Ekangi, so the sub-surface soil water table is maintained properly.
 
Popularization of Ekangi as a potential crop for crop diversification efforts (replacing Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situation with water stress problem in red and lateritic belt)
 
After the standardization of modified cultivation practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in Kharif season for red and lateritic belt of Chotanagpur plateau with special emphasis on Birbhum district is successfully operationalized, the Scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati initiated Front Line Demonstration (FLD) programmes on Ekangi with emphasis on imparting skill development trainings to the partner practicing farmers and farm women in 2015-16, which is continuing till date, involving a cumulative total of 266 numbers of partner farmers and farm women and 3.62 hectares of land under demonstration (Table  1).

Table 1: Front Line Demonstration Programmes on Ekangi organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.


       
Large tracts of Birbhum district is under mono-cropped farming system, especially in the areas with red lateritic soil profiles, with only Kharif Rice as the only cultivable crop in an annual crop calendar. This fact is corroborated by the information of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal (2026), which elucidates that Kharif Rice is the main predominant crop in the Kharif season and 94.00 per cent of the cultivated land of Birbhum district in Kharif Season is under Rice. This type of farming situation, overwhelmingly dependent on one crop i.e. Kharif Rice, can be further looked into from the fact that the Kharif Rice covered 3,03,395 hectares of land out of total net cropped Area of 3,20,610 hectares in the Year of 2020-21 in Birbhum district, which amounts to 94.63 percentage share of Kharif Rice in net cropped area of the district (Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal-2021).
       
According to Mondal et al. (2018), 80.00 per cent of the area under rice in Birbhum district is under old high yielding Rice varieties like IR-36, varietal release in the year of 1976; Swarna (MTU-7029), variety released in the year of 1982; Khitish (IET-4094), varietal release in the year of 1982; Lalat (IET-9947), Varietal release in 1989 and Shatabdi (IET-4786), varietal release in 2000.
       
To achieve increased varietal replacement rate / seed replacement ratio in Birbhum district, the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra initiated Front Line Demonstration (FLD) programme on newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice from the year 2020-21. In the last three years, i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, the Scientists of the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra organised FLD programmes on the newly released improved high-yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, suitable red lateritic situation of Birbhum district viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), variety released in the year 2009; Chandra (MTU- 1153), variety released in the year 2015 and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672), variety released in 2016; involving a cumulative total of 562 numbers of partner farmers and farm women and 160.60 hectares of land under demonstration (Table 2). The FLD performances of the above-noted three (3) kharif rice varieties are elucidated in Table 2.

Table 2: Front Line Demonstration Programmes on newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.


       
To have a scientific economic comparison between the FLD Programmes organised by the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra on Ekangi and the three newly released Improved High Yielding Varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET- 20672), the present authors have comparatively analysed the front-line demonstration data using tabular comparative tools as noted through Table 3.

Table 3: Economic comparison between Front Line Demonstration Programmes on Ekangi and newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.


       
Further to analyse the data gained from the FLD Programmes, organised by the scientists of the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, it is to be noted that across all the demonstration programmes, Ekangi enjoyed overwhelmingly higher net return (Rs./ha), ranging from Rs. 6,35,590.00/ha against kharif rice Var. Chandra (MTU-1153) in 2023-24 to Rs. 5,91,700.00/ha against Kharif Rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26 and higher B:C ratio over newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, ranging from a highest of 4.30 against kharif rice Var. Chandra (MTU- 1153) in 2023-24 to 3.10 against Kharif Rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26 (Table  4).

Table 4: Difference in net return (Rs./ha) and difference in B:C ratio in Front Line Demonstration Programmes organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra in favour of Ekangi over newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice.

CONCLUSION

The Front Line Demonstration Programmes organized by the Scientists of the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra over last few Years, especially in the last three (3) years i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 clearly showed that Ekangi has a massive edge over three (3) newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672) in terms of economics viz. net return (Rs./ha) and B:C ratio. This carries significance in the backdrop presence of 13 (thirteen) numbers of the Community Development (CD) Blocks viz. Murarai-I, Murarai-II, Rampurhat-I, Rampurhat-II, Mayureswar-I, Muhammad Bazar, Suri-I, Suri-II, Dubrajpur, Khayrasole, Illambazar, Bolpur-Srniketan and Labpur of Birbhum district, where considerable Red Lateritic soil situation (Sonam, 2022) with mainly Kharif Rice - fallow farming system along with predominantly prevails. This is because Ekangi, as a Crop of Drought resistance capacity and totally rainfed, covering the fields within 3 Months, preventing Soil erosion due to heavy rain or heavy wind, lowering soil water evaporation loss and maintaining the Soil Water table properly, is a potential crop with huge positive crop economics and can be utilised to replace Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situations of Red Lateritic Zones.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The present study was supported by primary data and statistical analysis of the data generated from the Front Line Demonstration (FLD) Programmes organized by the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
 
Disclaimers
 
The views and conclusions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their affiliated institutions. The authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, but do not accept any liability for any direct or indirect losses resulting from the use of this content.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article. No funding or sponsorship influenced the design of the study, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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    Modification and Popularization of Improved Cultivation Practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) as Replacement Crop for Rice in Kharif Season for Red and Lateritic Belt of Birbhum District of West Bengal

    P
    Prabuddha Ray1,*
    S
    Subrata Mandal2
    S
    Sourav Mondal3
    P
    Palash Ankure4
    1Discipline of Agricultural Extension, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.
    2Discipline of Agronomy, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.
    3Discipline of Plant Protection, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.
    4Discipline of Farm Management, RKVK, PSB (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, Birbhum-731 236, West Bengal, India.

    ABSTRACT

    Background: The significant presence of 13 (thirteen) numbers of the Community Development (CD) Blocks viz. Murarai-I, Murarai-II, Rampurhat-I, Rampurhat-II, Mayureswar-I, Muhammad Bazar, Suri-I, Suri-II, Dubrajpur, Khayrasole, Illambazar, Bolpur-Srniketan and Labpur of Birbhum District, where a considerable Red Lateritic soil situation with mainly Kharif Rice - fallow farming system along with predominantly mono-cropped Kharif Rice farming situation prevails, raises the ecological and economic concern of overwhelming dominance and continuance of cultivation of Rice in Kharif season. In this background, Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra introduced Ekangi as a crop of drought resistance capacity and totally rainfed, covering the fields within 3 months, preventing Soil erosion due to heavy rain or heavy wind, lowering soil water evaporation loss and maintaining the Soil Water table properly, is a potential crop with huge positive crop economics, can be utilized to replace Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situation of red lateritic zones.

    Methods: Mainly comparative statistical analyses of the data from the study across all the front-line demonstration programmes on viz. Ekangi and newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672) in terms of economics viz. net return (Rs./ha) and B: C ratio were analysed.

    Result: The present study clearly revealed the fact that the improved cultivation practices for the production of Ekangi as modified by the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra had huge economic potential over and above the newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, especially in the mono-cropped Kharif Rice farming situation prevailing in red lateritic zones of Birbhum District, West Bengal. The front-line demonstration (FLD) programmes in the last three (3) years, i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, clearly showed that Ekangi has a massive economic edge over three (3) newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672) in terms of economics viz. net return (Rs./ha) and B:C ratio. Ekangi enjoyed overwhelmingly higher net return (Rs./ha), ranging from Rs. 6,35,590.00/ha against Kharif Rice Var. Chandra (MTU-1153) in 2023-24 to Rs. 5,91,700.00/ha against kharif rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26 and higher B:C ratio over newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, ranging from a highest of 4.30 against Kharif Rice Var. Chandra (MTU-1153) in 2023-24 to 3.10 against Kharif Rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26.

    INTRODUCTION

    Sand / Aromatic Ginger also known as Ekangi in Vernacular Languages, especially in Bengali; Chandramula in Hindi; Kencur in Indonesian; Cekor in Malay or Inchmoh (local Khasi name) in Meghalaya [Techaprasan et al., 2010; Selvam, 2012; Biswas, 2020 and Regional-cum-Facilitation Centre, Eastern Region (RCFC-ER), National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India and Jadavpur University, Kolkata (2023)] is botanically known as Kaempheria galanga L., a perennial, stemless, monocotyledonous plant in the Zingiberaceae plant family with plant characteristics  of aromatic herb formed by thin, moderately branching roots growing from a tuberous stem. The plant is native to India and originated in East Asia (with special reference to Burma, now renamed as Myanmar). Worldwide, this plant is mainly cultivated in South-East Asia, South Asia and China. In India, Ekangi is being produced by the farmers and farm women of Karnataka, Kerala, now renamed as Keralam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The rhizome of Ekangi is fleshy, odorous and has a dull reddish-brown external skin with a delicate interior which is almost whitish to light yellowish with a tuberous tip, while the leaves are deep green to darkish green, radiating horizontally along with the ground layer (Selvam, 2012).
           
    The compounds Ethyl-Cinnamate and Ethyl–P-Methoxycinnamate are the major bioactive constituents of Rhizome extracts of Ekangi that have been reported in Dichloromethane (Othman et al., 2006), Hexane (Yu et al., 2000) and Methanol (Huang et al., 2008) extracts. Nonglang et al., (2022) confirmed the presence and identification of various phytocompounds, with Ethyl P-Methoxycinnamate identified as the major active compound from the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GCMS) analysis of Rhizome extracts of Ekangi.
           
    In evidence-based clinical medicine, K. galanga L. has been reported to possess different pharmacological properties like anti-inflammatory (Sulaiman et al., 2008), anti-apoptotic and anti-carcinogenic activities (Liu et al., 2010), sedative effects (Ali et al., 2015) and wound healing activities (Shanbhag et al., 2006) due to presence of above noted major bioactive constituents of its Rhizome. War and Kayang (2022) also pointed out from their Study that extracted oil from the rhizomes of Ekangi has had the potential to control fungal phyto-pathogens and their associated growths.
           
    The above-noted findings clearly point out the fact that the derivatives, extracts and essential oils, mainly from the Rhizomes of Ekangi, have wide-ranging application in pharmaceutical, perfumery, food and feed flavouring and folk medicine Sectors.
           
    Ekangi     as a cultivable crop is also remunerative because of the high market price value of its dry Rhizomes.  In 2016-17, the market price of Ekangi rhizomes was Rs.300.00 per Kilo Gram (Kg.), which was Rs.120.00 per Kg. in 2012-13 (Preetha et al., 2016). Apart from domestic market demand, this crop of Ekangi also has a fair export potential (Vincent et al., 1991). The price of essential oil extracted from Ekangi Rhizomes varied from US$600.00 to US$ 700.00 per Kg. in the international market in the early part of the 2000s (Chithra et al., 2005). According to market aggregator, Amazon (2026), the retail sale price of Rhizomes of Ekangi is Rs. 3,956.00 kg to Rs. 4,000.00/kg with up to 44 per cent discount, resulting into a discounted retail price of Rs. 2,217.72/kg to Rs. 2,217.84/kg. The wholesale market price of Ekangi Rhizomes varies from Rs. 200.00/kg to Rs. 450.00/kg (Exportersindia, 2026). As a result, the crop of Ekangi is being transformed into the status of commercial crop from restricted cultivation in localised tracts of West Bengal, due to a steady increase in market demand and a sustained rise in market price in recent years.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS

    Keeping the above noted factors in mind, the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati started its Research and Extension Works on Ekangi in 2013-14 with the following objectives:
    1. Standardization of modified cultivation practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in kharif season for red and lateritic belt of Birbhum district in West Bengal.
    2. Popularization of Ekangi as a potential crop for crop diversification efforts (replacing Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situation with water stress problem in red and lateritic belt).
    3. Ensuring higher economic benefits for the farmers through increased net return and also increased B:C ratio.
     
    Study area
     
    Representative 38 (thirty eight) numbers of villages from 13 (Thirteen) numbers of the Community Development (CD) Blocks viz. Murarai-I, Murarai-II, Rampurhat-I, Rampurhat-II, Mayureswar-I, Muhammad Bazar, Suri-I, Suri-II, Dubrajpur, Khayrasole, Illambazar, Bolpur-Srniketan and Labpur of Birbhum District, where considerable red lateritic soil situation (Map 1) (Sonam, 2022) with mainly Kharif rice - fallow farming system along with predominantly mono-cropped Kharif Rice farming situation prevails were selected for Font Line Demonstration (FLD) Programmes on Ekangi and the said FLD programmes have been being conducted by the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra since 2015-16 till date.

    Map 1: Geological map of Birbhum district.

    RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

    Scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, critically studied the established protocol of cultivation-production practices of Ekangi, as elaborated / noted / established by Kerala Agricultural University (2007). Scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra initiated On Station Trial (OST) for standardization of modified cultivation practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in kharif season for red and lateritic belt of chotanagpur plateau with special emphasis on Birbhum district in West Bengal in 2013-14 in its Medicinal Plants Garden. The trial concluded in 2014-15 with following Modified Package of Practices for cultivation of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in kharif season for red and lateritic belt of Chotanagpur Plateau with special emphasis on Birbhum district in West Bengal.
     
    Basic technology
     
    The basic technological package of practices for cultivation of Ekangi was derived from Kerala Agricultural University (2007).
     
    Brief about the modified technology
     
    • Totally rainfed.
    • Time of planting: May-June with nor-wester.
    • Seed rate:  7.5 q/ha (Rhizome of 4 cm length with 2 buds)
    •  Land preparation: Only 2 cross ploughings with levelling.
    •  Choice of land: Medium to upland with proper drainage facility in mono cropped area.
    •  Planting: Spacing - 20 cms. × 20 cms.; Depth - 4 cms.
    •  Seed treatment: Rhizomes to be dipped in solution of Trichoderma viridi (4 gm/kg seeds).
    •  Manures and fertiliser: Well rotten farm yard manure (FYM) 10 ton/ha as basal.
    • Top dressing at one month after planting: Urea 75 kg/ha, SSP- 600 kg/ha, MOP- 100 kg/ha.
    •  Top dressing after three months of planting: Urea - 75 kg/ha.
    •  Intercultural operations: - Weeding at 2nd. and 4th. Weeks after planting, then straw mulching.
    •  Herbicide use: Spraying of Glyphosate @ 5 ml. /lt. of Water at 15 days after planting.
    •  Harvesting: 6-8 months after planting.
    •  Yield: 300-350 q/ha.
     
    Uniqueness of the technology in comparison to existing ones: 
     
    A. Saving of water, labour, time and energy:
     
    (a) Totally rainfed, 80% water saving than Kharif rice.
    (b) Total 200 labours per hectare saved.
    (c) Time requirement is more but it is irrelevant as it is cultivated in mono-cropped area.
     
    B. Conservation of soil
     
    Soil conservation is more because after 3 months the crop covers the land with its broad leaves and protects the crops from erosion and nutrient loss.
     
    C. Climate resilience capacity
     
    It can withstand severe drought.
     
    D. Biotic factor resilience
     
    Cattle do not graze it.
     
    E. Cost effectiveness including B: C ratio
     
    The partner farmers of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, involved in the Kendra’s front-line demonstration (FLD) programmes on cultivation of Ekangi, also cultivated kharif rice variety Swarna (MTU-7029) side-by-side and earned a net return of Rs. 22,500.00 per ha in their rain fed mono cropped farming situation with a B:C ratio of 1.82 in the Year of 2015-16 (Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, 2016). Now after cultivating Ekangi the above-mentioned Partner Farmers and Farm Women achieved a B:C ratio of 6.03 with net return of Rs. 7,47,500.00 per ha in the year of 2015-16 (Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, 2016).
     
    F. Natural resource conservation
     
    Ekangi as a field crop is totally rain fed. So, there is no loss of water. Total rainwater is used for production. Crops cover the fields within 3 months, so no soil erosion occurs due to heavy rain or heavy wind. Evaporation loss is lowered down from the area under cultivation of Ekangi, so the sub-surface soil water table is maintained properly.
     
    Popularization of Ekangi as a potential crop for crop diversification efforts (replacing Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situation with water stress problem in red and lateritic belt)
     
    After the standardization of modified cultivation practices of Ekangi (Kaempheria galanga L.) in Kharif season for red and lateritic belt of Chotanagpur plateau with special emphasis on Birbhum district is successfully operationalized, the Scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati initiated Front Line Demonstration (FLD) programmes on Ekangi with emphasis on imparting skill development trainings to the partner practicing farmers and farm women in 2015-16, which is continuing till date, involving a cumulative total of 266 numbers of partner farmers and farm women and 3.62 hectares of land under demonstration (Table  1).

    Table 1: Front Line Demonstration Programmes on Ekangi organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.


           
    Large tracts of Birbhum district is under mono-cropped farming system, especially in the areas with red lateritic soil profiles, with only Kharif Rice as the only cultivable crop in an annual crop calendar. This fact is corroborated by the information of the Department of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal (2026), which elucidates that Kharif Rice is the main predominant crop in the Kharif season and 94.00 per cent of the cultivated land of Birbhum district in Kharif Season is under Rice. This type of farming situation, overwhelmingly dependent on one crop i.e. Kharif Rice, can be further looked into from the fact that the Kharif Rice covered 3,03,395 hectares of land out of total net cropped Area of 3,20,610 hectares in the Year of 2020-21 in Birbhum district, which amounts to 94.63 percentage share of Kharif Rice in net cropped area of the district (Dept. of Agriculture, Govt. of West Bengal-2021).
           
    According to Mondal et al. (2018), 80.00 per cent of the area under rice in Birbhum district is under old high yielding Rice varieties like IR-36, varietal release in the year of 1976; Swarna (MTU-7029), variety released in the year of 1982; Khitish (IET-4094), varietal release in the year of 1982; Lalat (IET-9947), Varietal release in 1989 and Shatabdi (IET-4786), varietal release in 2000.
           
    To achieve increased varietal replacement rate / seed replacement ratio in Birbhum district, the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra initiated Front Line Demonstration (FLD) programme on newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice from the year 2020-21. In the last three years, i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, the Scientists of the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra organised FLD programmes on the newly released improved high-yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, suitable red lateritic situation of Birbhum district viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), variety released in the year 2009; Chandra (MTU- 1153), variety released in the year 2015 and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672), variety released in 2016; involving a cumulative total of 562 numbers of partner farmers and farm women and 160.60 hectares of land under demonstration (Table 2). The FLD performances of the above-noted three (3) kharif rice varieties are elucidated in Table 2.

    Table 2: Front Line Demonstration Programmes on newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.


           
    To have a scientific economic comparison between the FLD Programmes organised by the scientists of Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra on Ekangi and the three newly released Improved High Yielding Varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET- 20672), the present authors have comparatively analysed the front-line demonstration data using tabular comparative tools as noted through Table 3.

    Table 3: Economic comparison between Front Line Demonstration Programmes on Ekangi and newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.


           
    Further to analyse the data gained from the FLD Programmes, organised by the scientists of the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra, it is to be noted that across all the demonstration programmes, Ekangi enjoyed overwhelmingly higher net return (Rs./ha), ranging from Rs. 6,35,590.00/ha against kharif rice Var. Chandra (MTU-1153) in 2023-24 to Rs. 5,91,700.00/ha against Kharif Rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26 and higher B:C ratio over newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice, ranging from a highest of 4.30 against kharif rice Var. Chandra (MTU- 1153) in 2023-24 to 3.10 against Kharif Rice Var. Ranidhan (IET-19418) in 2025-26 (Table  4).

    Table 4: Difference in net return (Rs./ha) and difference in B:C ratio in Front Line Demonstration Programmes organized by Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra in favour of Ekangi over newly released improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice.

    CONCLUSION

    The Front Line Demonstration Programmes organized by the Scientists of the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra over last few Years, especially in the last three (3) years i.e. 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 clearly showed that Ekangi has a massive edge over three (3) newly released Improved high yielding varieties of Kharif Rice viz. Ranidhan (IET-19418), Chandra (MTU-1153) and CR Dhan 800 (IET-20672) in terms of economics viz. net return (Rs./ha) and B:C ratio. This carries significance in the backdrop presence of 13 (thirteen) numbers of the Community Development (CD) Blocks viz. Murarai-I, Murarai-II, Rampurhat-I, Rampurhat-II, Mayureswar-I, Muhammad Bazar, Suri-I, Suri-II, Dubrajpur, Khayrasole, Illambazar, Bolpur-Srniketan and Labpur of Birbhum district, where considerable Red Lateritic soil situation (Sonam, 2022) with mainly Kharif Rice - fallow farming system along with predominantly prevails. This is because Ekangi, as a Crop of Drought resistance capacity and totally rainfed, covering the fields within 3 Months, preventing Soil erosion due to heavy rain or heavy wind, lowering soil water evaporation loss and maintaining the Soil Water table properly, is a potential crop with huge positive crop economics and can be utilised to replace Kharif Rice in mono-cropped farming situations of Red Lateritic Zones.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    The present study was supported by primary data and statistical analysis of the data generated from the Front Line Demonstration (FLD) Programmes organized by the Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
     
    Disclaimers
     
    The views and conclusions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their affiliated institutions. The authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided, but do not accept any liability for any direct or indirect losses resulting from the use of this content.

    CONFLICT OF INTEREST

    The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article. No funding or sponsorship influenced the design of the study, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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