With no cure in sight, Cycas circinalis, popularly known as Eenthu Pana in Kerala, is on the verge of extinction in the northern part of the State after being hit by an unknown and fast spreading plant disease. Farmers feel these old palms, some of them decades or even centuries old, will gradually die out in the absence of a focussed research and action plan.
“These trees may be older than our parents. No one is cultivating it now though it grows independently here and there. We are watching helplessly as these old trees die out,” says K. Mohini, a tribal woman from Kozhikode’s Vilangad village who is familiar with the features of this unique plant, its medicinal value, stages of harvest, and the method of preparing dishes. She recalls how her community members have been heavily dependent on its nutritious flour to feed their children and the ailing.
