Roselle: An up-and-coming high-value food crop

Mention Roselle and what instantaneously comes to mind is a woman.

But in the agriculture world, it’s an okra-like plant commonly used in the preparation of "sinigang" mix, tea, jam, jelly, and juice. It is also a good source of fiber products such as textile, thread, and pulp and paper.

Roselle’s seeds are likewise best as feed for chicken.

Its leaves have medicinal uses as well, such as treatment for constipation, indigestion, antiseptic, and aphrodisiac. It also can normalize blood pressure and prevent cancer.

Having studied full well Roselle’s potential as a high-value crop, the Los Baños-based Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) has initiated field experiments for this plant in support of the government’s poverty alleviation program.

"Toward this end, the ERDB aims to develop Roselle as a high-value crop in agro-forestry systems," said ERDB Director Celso P. Diaz.

A project headed by Dr. Aleli Luna for the pilot production and growing of Roselle plants in a nursery area of ERDB in Los Baños has been launched. Germination of Roselle seeds and testing its viability are ongoing.

If the experiment succeeds, the plants would be pilot-tested in a large-scale plantation or in farmers’ fields, Dr. Diaz said.

This early, Rotary Club of Makati and Garsworth Marketing president Albert Garcia, who introduced Roselle as a potential source of livelihood, has committed to the DENR in marketing the Roselle products as soon as competitive quality and volume have been reached. – Rudy A. Fernandez