Sir,
This refers to the news item’IIIM introduces Phalsa Juice in Market'(DE,Feb13,2015).It is heartening to read that Phalsa Juice in Tetra Pack has been introduced in the market by the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine(IIIM) for sale and that the first lot is already being sold by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board(SMVDSB) since last month with excellent response. Phalsa (Grewia asiatica) is a nutritious fruit having red and deep purple colour when ripe.It is a source of many minerals and other nutrients.But is highly perishable and ferments very quickly.So it is imperative that either it is eaten fresh or its pulp converted into juice to preserve it for a long time.When savoured in summer ,it has a cooling effect on the body and mind.It is a bit laborious to pick it as it has to be picked by hand and its yield is very low.Therefore, the vendors who collect this fruit sell it at a high price but the buyers savour this nutritious fruit for its delectable sweet and sour taste.There was a time when this tree used to grow in great profusion in forests, barren lands and elsewhere.I cherish the childhood days when as children we used to collect this tasty fruit in large quantiy in the morning, add salt and powdered black pepper and relish it or serve to the guests and neighbours.
But nowadays the Phalsa trees,like other trees of traditional fruit, are rarely seen thanks to the large scale deforestation as a result of urbanization and clearance of forest and barren land for agricultural purposes and making houses.The noble initiative of the IIIM to prepare and sell phalsa juice in tetra packs as also to sell Phalsa plants at a nominal price of Rs15 per plant needs to be appreciated by one and all.Efforts also need to be focussed on selling plants and produce of other traditional fruit such as berries,jaamun, galgal( Citrus aurantium), kimb,( Citrus medica),phagara(Ficus palmata), trimble(Ficus roxburghi etc.which are losing their charm for the youth and children of today as they are little exposed to these fruits.Steps also need to be taken to promote their plantation by imparting training to the farmers about their nutritional and commercial importance so that they can earn handsome amount by selling them to tourists,especially the foreigners.
Yours truly,
Ashok Sharma,
Udhampur
Follow our WhatsApp channel