Popularization of Annatto (Bixa orellana L.)for Natural Edible Dye in Tamil Nadu

Background

The earliest authentic records of dyes were found in tomb paintings of Egypt. From 16th to 18th century, the Dutch and British explorers brought oriental dyestuffs including indigo to the European market. Natural materials were the only source of dyes until 1856. After 1856, synthetic dyes dominated the world trade of colours and started replacing vegetables dyes. The accidental discovery of mauve, a coloured coal tar product produced by Sir Henry Perkin, which was named as Mauveine, was the starting point for synthetic dyes. In spite of advancement of synthetic dyes and their immediate acceptability throughout the world, the use of vegetable dyes continued in few pockets of India as a small-scale industry (Farooqi, 2003). The edible dyes are still used for colouring various food items due to their non-toxic nature and people started realizing the importance of vegetable dyes since there is rethinking on use of chemical and synthetic dyes due to their hazardous effects on health of workers and other associated environmental problems. The recent ban on production and use of unsubstituted benzedine possessing carcinogenic properties has resulted in a search for an alternative by major dyestuff manufacturers. Kumar et al. (2004) opined that the revival and use of vegetable dyes is possible by encouraging research on various herbs and shrubs with regards to their agronomic practices, chemical evaluation and purification of dyes and by proper cultivation of potential dye yielding plants around 7.5 million hectares of marginal and waste lands available in India.

Project Rationale

The use of natural dyes is the safest way because they are not only ecofriendly but also prevent environmental pollution. Natural dyes are biodegradable, non-toxic, aesthetically appealing and may serve a better alternative to generate employment and utilize the wastelands. Natural dyes are obtained from plant, animal and mineral resources. Vegetables dyes are obtained from almost every part of the plant as from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis, flowers of Carthamus tinctorius, fruits of Terminalia chebula, bark of Ventilago madraspatana, wood of Pterocarpus santalinus, rhizome of Curcuma longa and seeds of Bixa orellana. 

Bixa orellana is commonly known as annatto or roucan. Annatto belongs to the family Bixaceae and is propagated both by seed and stem cutting (Krishnamurthy, 1993). It is a multipurpose small evergreen tree, which is widely known for its dye, used for colouring food, dyeing the cloth and painting the skin.  The pulp surrounding the seeds is widely used in herbal medicine to treat burns, dysentry, constipation and fever (Parrotta, 2001). Annatto seeds are the world’s second most important natural colorant after caramel yielding yellow to red colours (Mercandampe and Ptander, 1998). The colours may reach up to 7 per cent of the seeds dry mass (Kutzer, 1999).

Annatto is grown in garden as ornamental and hedge crop in social forestry or as live fence (Jensen, 1999). The crop is now fetching importance in food industry as the seeds are directly powdered and mixed with food products for their attractive colour. The branches with dry pods are used in dry floral arrangements (Waurren, 1997) and from the bark, ropes and twines are made (Little et al., 1974). The extracts of leaves, bark and roots are also reported to be antidotes for poisoning from Manihot esculenta, Jatropha curcas and Hura creptans (Liogier, 1990). The roots are used in flavouring meats, to which they impart the colour and flavour of saffron.  The seed colouring matters known as bixin and orellin are isolated from Bixa orellana. They are also used for dyeing hairs, floor polishes, shoe polishes, hair oils, pharmaceutical ointments etc.  The pulp is also applied to the skin as a mosquito repellent.         In India, it is naturalized and cultivated to a small extent in Mysore though it is native of tropical/ Central America. It is also grown in Kerala and along the Coromandel Coast and in certain districts of Maharashtra, West Bengal and Assam (Troup, 1921). Kirtiker and Basu (1991) reported that the crop could be grown throughout India.  According to Kanjilal and Singh (1995), under Indian conditions, Annatto plantation yielded approximately 525 kg/ha and 2,483 kg/ha of seed at the age of 2 and 3 years respectively.  Krishnamurthy (1998) also expressed that a small quantity of Bixa seeds were also exported from India.

Even though commercial plantations of annatto are being grown in some parts of the country, identified genotypes with high bixin were not utilized for producing quality planting stock. FCRI has identified and assembled 12 genotypes with high bixin content. Cultivation Package and Vegetative Propagation techniques for producing genetically superior planting stock were also standardized. Hence this project is proposed to establish Natural Dye Parks of 10 ha each in all the agro climatic zones to popularize the species in Tamil Nadu as a source of Natural Edible dye.

Project Strategy/Methodology

• Popularization of Annatto as a source of Natural Edible Dye through Demo plots, trainings, etc and promote the establishment of commercial Annatto plantations by farmers’ clusters through a value chain 
• Identification of suitable location and site for establishing Annatto Dye Parks in six agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu for promotion its cultivation as a potential source of edible dye
• Production of quality planting stock of Annatto from the identified mother plants with high Bixin content for establishing the Dye Parks
• Establishing Natural Dye Parks in the identified locations in six agro climatic zones for demonstration purpose
• Creating awareness programmes like trainings and field days for promotion of Annatto cultivation by farmers on contract farming
• Identification of clusters of farmers in the six agro climatic zones for horizontal expansion of the area under Annatto
• Developing a value chain through a public-private partnership mode
• Identified Company for the assured by-back of annatto by the farmers under contract farming systems is

Ozone Biotech Pvt Limited
Plot No.6, 14/3, Mathura Road,
Faridabad, Haryana - 121003
Phone :  + 91 - 129 - 4196800      
Fax : + 91 - 129 - 4310694

Project Goals

• To establish Natural Edible Dye Parks in six agroclimatic regions of Tamil Nadu (except Hilly Zone) for demonstration
• To develop a value chain involving company (mentioned above) and farmers’ clusters to promote the commercial cultivation of the species
• To impart capacity building through trainings and field days

Project Components

• Mass multiplication of Identified clones of Annatto for  establishing the Natural Dye Parks
• Establishment of Natural Dye Parks of 10 ha each in six agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu
• Identification of farmers’ clusters and companies for developing annatto consortia
• Developing Value Chain through Public Private Partnership Mode to promote commercial plantations of Annatto
• Capacity Building in Annatto through trainings, field days, etc

Implementation chart of the project (Time frame)

Deliverables (Quantifiable)

• Mass multiplication of 50,000 clonal grafted plants of Annatto
• Demonstration of 60 ha Bixa clonal plantations @ 10ha per agro climatic zone
• Capacity building programme for 2500 farmers and stakeholders through 6 trainings and 6 field days
• Linking farmers with Ozone Biotech, Faridabad for buyback with Minimum Support Price

Expected Outcome (Quantifiable)

• Development of 60 ha of Bio-resource of Annatto for Natural Edible Dye
• Horizontal Expansion of Annatto clonal plantations to around 600 ha in six agro climatic zones of the state
• Alternate cropping system to the existing agriculture or other crops
• Development of at least 2 user groups per agro climatic zone for Annatto promotion
• Possibility of new industrial establishment for dye processing and expansion
• Safe and clean environmental programme

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Contact:

Horticultural College and Research Institute,
Periyakulam- 625 604
Phone: 04546-231726/233225
Fax: 04546-231726/233225
Email : deanhcripkm@tnau.ac.in