Screw Pine (Kewra)

Farmers in Ganjam district of Odisha have increasingly shifted from paddy cultivation to kewra (Screw Pine) cultivation due to repeated crop damage caused by wild boars. The transition reflects the plant's resilience, higher economic value, and lower vulnerability to wildlife raids.

About Screw Pine

The Screw Pine, commonly known as Kewra or Kewda (Pandanus odorifer), is a small branched tree or shrub belonging to the Pandanaceae family. Despite its name, it is not a true pine. Instead, it is a monocotyledonous plant, making it more closely related to grasses and palms than to coniferous trees.

The plant naturally thrives in tropical coastal ecosystems and is well adapted to saline conditions, making it an important species along India's coastline.

Physical Characteristics

The Screw Pine is a small, slender, branching tree with a flexible trunk that is supported by distinctive brace (prop) roots, which provide stability in loose coastal soils. It bears dense rosettes of long, narrow, stiff, leathery leaves that are bluish-green, pointed, and lined with sharp spines along their margins.

One of its most valuable features is its highly fragrant male flowers, from which the famous kewra essence and essential oil are extracted. These flowers are widely prized for their pleasant aroma and commercial value.

Distribution

The Screw Pine is naturally distributed across southern India, Myanmar (Burma), and the Andaman Islands. In India, it grows abundantly along the coastal belt of Odisha, particularly in Ganjam district, stretching between the Rushikulya River in the north and the Bahuda River in the south. This coastal region is considered one of the country's most important centres of kewra cultivation.

Climatic Requirements

The plant flourishes in warm, humid tropical climates with abundant sunshine. It requires bright, direct sunlight for healthy growth and performs best in loamy soils rich in organic matter that retain adequate moisture while ensuring good drainage.

The ideal annual rainfall for Screw Pine ranges between 1,500 and 2,000 millimetres, making the humid coastal regions highly suitable for its cultivation.

Applications and Economic Importance

The Screw Pine has immense economic, medicinal, and cultural significance. Its fragrant male flowers are distilled to produce kewra oil and kewra water, which are extensively used in the food industry for flavouring sweets, desserts, beverages, and traditional dishes such as biryani.

The aromatic extracts are also widely used in the perfume, cosmetic, and aromatherapy industries because of their unique fragrance. In Ayurvedic medicine, various parts of the plant are valued for their therapeutic properties.

The long, strong leaves are traditionally woven into mats, baskets, bags, handicrafts, and household items, providing an important source of livelihood for rural communities, particularly in coastal Odisha.

Ecological Significance

The Screw Pine plays a crucial ecological role as a keystone species in coastal ecosystems. Its extensive prop root system stabilises sandy soils, reduces coastal erosion, and protects shorelines against strong winds and tidal action.

Additionally, the dense vegetation provides habitat and shelter for numerous birds, insects, and small animals, thereby supporting coastal biodiversity and strengthening ecosystem resilience.

Significance

The growing adoption of kewra cultivation demonstrates how farmers can successfully adapt to human-wildlife conflict while diversifying their income. Besides offering higher commercial returns, Screw Pine contributes to coastal ecosystem conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and the traditional perfume and handicraft industries, making it an economically valuable and environmentally significant plant species.