Harra tree is valued for its
fruit that supplies Myrobolans of commerce. It is a small
or medium sized tree found on higher plateaus, in open forests.
This species is found throughout mixed deciduous and drier
forests and also on revenue wastelands, field bunds, village
commons etc.
Availability and Spread
Undivided MP accounts for 75
percent of total Harra production in the country (Gupta and
Guleria, 1982). In MP, it is available in Betul, Chindwara,
Seoni, Balaghat, Satna, Panna, Sidhi, Jabalpur, Mandla, and
Shahdol districts.
Utilisation
This is an important tanning
material of pyrogellol class and as regards to the tannin
property is better one among three Myrobolans. Harra tans
produce a brownish coloured deposit on leather called bloom,
as unlike catechol class of tans that do not produce this
bloom. This tan is not very astringent and penetrates hide
very slowly. Along with Babul, it is used for tanning of leather
for making soles of shoes. Apart from tanning, they are used
in medicines as laxative, astringent, stomachache and tonic.
Applied in chronic ulcers, bleeding gums, fruits and bark
of the tree is used in about 20 Ayurvedic preparations.
Collection and Processing
The fruits fall on the ground
soon after ripening. The harvested seeds are dried in thin
layers, preferably in shade and graded for marketing. In trade
parlance, Harra is divided into three categories.
Bal/ Choti/ Jawa Harra - harvesting period of this is usually
January and is primarily used for ayurvedic medicines. Price
is around Rs. 40 per kg. The fruit of this category is collected
before maturity as small Harra has more medicinal value. However
harvesting at such an early stage is not considered sustainable.
Forest dwellers are forced to do it as it fetches more prices.
When Harra becomes mature, it looses medicinal value thereby
fetching less money. In Ambikapur most of the traders are
engaged in Bal Harra trade, whereas it is comparatively less
in other places of the state.
Badi Harra - is used in Tanneries
and not very useful for ayurvedic medicines as it has lesser
medicinal values. Average price is about Rs. 3 per kg. February
is considered the best month for collection of this variety.
Badi Harra is loosing its ground rapidly as it is believed
that tannin production companies have developed a substitute.
Kacheria - is the crushed pulp
of Badi Harra as the astringent quality is found in the same.
Can be used as substitute of Bal Harra. The crushed Myrobolans
are preferred as it reduces bulk and weight of the material
while whole fruits are preferred to avoid adulterations. But
transport difficulties forces exporters to send Myrobolans
in crushed form. Price comes to about Rs.10 per kg. 60 kg
of kacheria comes out from 100 kgs of Badi Harra.
Production and Pricing
Production of Harra in undivided
state has shown wide fluctuation during past two decades from
21 to 200 thousand quintals as seen in the figure below. In
mid nineties, it had stabilised around 100 thousand quintals.
But it has again shown a downtrend. One reason for declining
production has been felling of trees in revenue wasteland
that were gradually brought under farming. In past trees have
been felled for silvicultural operations without replacement.
However, in recent past it has been found that demand for
Harra has diminished. Though some say it is due to tensions
with Pakistan and war in Afghanistan, another market information
say that a cheaper substitute has been found for Harra.
Figure : Production
Figures of Harra.
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