Lucknow: Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr.,] is a popular medicinal tree belonging to the family Rutaceae and its various parts are used in Ayurvedic and Siddha medicines to treat a variety of ailments. Almost all parts of the tree are used in preparing herbal medicine. The roots are useful for treating diarrhea, dysentery and dyspepsia. The aqueous extracts of the stem and root bark are used to treat malaria, fever, jaundice and skin diseases such as ulcers, urticaria and eczema. In pharmacological traits, both the fruit and root showed antiamoebic and hypoglycaemic activities. The tree is rich in alkaloids, among which aegline, marmesin, marmin and marmelosin are the major ones. Besides many important medicinal values to the human health, it is also a major source for enhancing the income of farmers because of its industrial needs for various purposes. In view of its medicinal and economic importance, a programme on planting of bael was initiated by Dr A. D. Pathak, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow at Krishi Vigyan Kendra farm of this Institute on 31st August, 2017. On this occasion, Dr S. K. Shukla, Project Coordinator (sugarcane), Head of the divisions, officers in-charges and scientists of the Institute were also present. The planting of bael conducted in an area of 1.1 ha using varieties viz. Narendra Beal-5, Narendra Beal-7, Narendra Beal-9, CISH Bael-1 and CISH Bael-2 at the spacing of 8 x 8m on KVK farm. The programme was aimed to establish mother plant of different varieties of bael to develop healthy & genetically pure planting material for distribution to the farmers as well as development of its demonstration unit with intercropping of different annual & perennial horticultural and field crops keeping in view of the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s dream for doubling the income of our farmers by 2022. On this occasion Dr S. N. Singh, Principal Scientist and Head, KVK, while welcoming the Chief Guest and other scientific gathering, informed that the bael plantation by the farmers will certainly boost their income because of its increasing demand in the market owing to its remarkable medicinal values. Dr. Singh further told that it is feasible to cultivate under medium inputs condition and also under limited water condition. Moreover it gives remarkable scope for intercropping of location specific horticultural and other field crops for boosting the income of farmers. He further told that the planting material of bael plantation will be developed by the KVK of IISR, Lucknow and will be distributed to the farmers besides imparting training to them on this aspect. Dr. V. N. Singh, Scientist (Horticulture) and Farm Managers of the Institute namely, shri Deep Kumar and Dr. B. B. Joshi have left no stone unturned in this plantation work which is solely for the cause of farmers and over all agricultural development in villages
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