Faiza Tehseen

The planation of frangipani on a commercial basis will help Pakistan to alleviate poverty and increase economic activities as the climate of the country is favourable for its growth, WealthPK reports. Experts said that the government needed to create awareness among farmers about the economic benefits of valuable non-traditional floral produce. They said that global frangipani extract market is expected to grow to $56.10 million by the year 2032 from $34.85 million in 2022. However, they regretted that relevant departments in Pakistan were not focusing on such initiatives.

“The extracts of frangipani or plumeria are of high economic value. It is a common plant in Pakistan but is not cultivated on a commercial scale. Among its varieties, plumeria rubra or the pinkish red variety possesses a high fragrance and is rich to extract. Its extraction level is only 0.03 percent through hydro distillation and the ratio increases to 0.3 to 0.4 percent through the solvent extraction method,” Dr Riffat Tahira, the Principal Scientific Officer at National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), told WealthPK.

She said that almost all frangipani extracts available in the local market were fake. She said that low-quality jasmine oil of pungent fragrance could be easily adulterated to frangipani. It is difficult to extract the purest extract of frangipani. It is quite costly to import it while it is cultivated nowhere in Pakistan on a commercial basis.

Dr Riffat said that the life of frangipani in cold storage could be three to four days. “Dawn is the right time to pluck flowers in full bloom as quantity and components for extraction are at their peak at that time. It is best to process it as quickly as possible. A distillery can be established on the farm for this purpose. About 120 to 150 kilograms of flowers are needed to extract one litre of essential oil,” she added.

Both seeds or cuttings of frangipani can be planted. It can be grown anywhere in Pakistan. However, its yield is good in the tropical environment like Karachi and its vicinities. It can be grown easily in Pakistan. It doesn’t need too much care, water or specific fertilisers once its plan is grown.

Naveed Ahmad from Punjab Agriculture Department told WealthPK that frangipani is a non-invasive woody plant mostly grafted. It is considered an ornamental plant in the country. In warm climates, it blooms almost year-round and the flower cluster may last more than a week.

He said that the government needed to create awareness among farmers and investors about the benefits of commercial farming of frangipani. The agriculture department can be of much help to popularise it by cultivating it alongside the roads and in official areas. A model field can also be set up. “The official patronage and support to market the product along with other value addition will convince farmers to try more types of floral crops, especially in the leftover areas,” said Mr Naveed.

Advocate Nadeem Ahmad Khan, the owner of Kavera tissue culture nursery farm in Pattoki, told WealthPK that white and pinkish red verities of frangipani are common in the country. Now other imported varieties in more colours like green and brownish red are also available in Pakistan. “The prices of newly introduced varieties range from Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 per plant while the market price of regular ones is from Rs250 to Rs500,” he added.

He said that mostly he grew frangipani through cuttings. “I tried to grow it by seeds, but unfortunately, they could not be germinated properly. It is important to make our farmers aware of the economic value of new cultivations,” said Mr Nadeem.

The palnts of crangipani can cope with extreme weather conditions. Its soft white wood is free of termites and won’t burn except at 500⁰ Centigrade. That’s why it is used to prepare musical instruments and light furnishing items as well. It is also a common ingredient of fragrant soaps, candles, oils and potpourris. Its sap or leaves powder is used in the treatmnet of several ailments including leprosy, herpes zoster, toothache, bruises, ulcers and rheumatism.

Frangipani is also considered sacred in several countries and cultures. It is the national flower of Laos and Nicaragua where its is published on bank notes. It is the flower of the Italian city Palermo. Buddha is considered the deity of frangipani. It is planted in the courtyard of every Buddhist temple in Laos.

Indians consider frangpani the symbol of immortality because it produces leaves and flowers even aftre it is uprooted. In Chinese, Indian, Caribbean and Aztec cultures, it is used to prepare potions and traditional medicines. In ancient Chinese system “Feng shui”, frangipani is associated with positive energy. Thai people wear its flowers on special festive occasions. Hawaiin sailors toss frangipani lei before sailing. If the lei floats ashore, the sailing is terminated and if it floats toward the ship, the journey is considered protected against the triton. Mexicans believe that gods were born from it while in Malay its scent is associated with vampires. The price of frangipani oil is $18 per kilgram in the international market.

Independent News Pakistan-Wealthpk