Chapters 5.67

5.67 -Adopting Sage to Adapt to Dry Conditions

Evan Hanswyk , University of Guelph, Canada

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Hanswyk,E. (2022) Adopting Sage to Adapt to Dry Conditions, In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org

Introduction to Sage

Many farming families around the world have been seriously affected by severe droughts because they can no longer grow the traditional crops that they sell as their primary source of income (Franke, et al., 2022). In regions that have unpredictable droughts and dry seasons such as Central and East Africa, one realistic solution for farmers is to begin to grow, harvest and sell sage. Sage is known to be a very hardy plant that can thrive in dry and sunny climates and in a wide variety of soil types (OMAFRA 2012). That means that the growing process is relatively simple, and combined with the fact that sage is a popular multi-use herb that has a large international demand, it is relatively simple to profit from (Franke et al., 2022). For centuries, people around the world have been cultivating sage to use in medicinal and healing practices, as well as for its strong aroma and flavour as a cooking ingredient (Lopresti 2017). Some species of sage may also be used as a beautiful ornamental garden plant that attracts butterflies to assist with crop pollination (Ibid). While there are over 700 species of sage, the most well-known one and the focus of this analysis is called Salvia officinalis, commonly referred to as garden sage or common sage. The following information is meant to educate smallholder farmers about the growing and drying methods, as well as to investigate the potential advantages and disadvantages of cultivating sage as a source of income (Franke et al., 2022).

Uses of sage

Native to Southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean region, sage has been used as a key ingredient in traditional medicine since ancient civilizations. In ancient times, some people regarded sage as a type of miraculous magical herb, as its oils provide benefits to diverse illnesses (Lopresti 2017). Primarily, the essential oil that comes from sage can be used to help people who suffer from heart, blood and breathing problems, as well as nervous system and digestive system problems (Franke et al., 2022). Recent studies suggest that sage oils can be used to treat, and in some cases cure, life threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes, dementia and depression (Mohammed 2021). The essential oil is also heavily used in cosmetic and personal hygiene products as well as in insect repellent sprays (Lopresti 2017). Because of its long history of medicinal uses, sage, especially in the form of tea, has become culturally important in some Asian and Middle Eastern countries such as China, India and Pakistan (Vinje 2022).

Aside from the medical benefits of sage, cultures all around the world use sage in their food as an .

ingredient. As part of the mint family, sage’s scent is similarly strong, fresh, earthy; when the leaves are rubbed between fingers, they release their fragrant oils. In modern Western society, sage is mostly used as a cooking ingredient (Vinje 2022). A few Western dishes where sage is a common ingredient include roast turkey and chicken, sausages, soups and stews as well as bread and biscuit dough. All this to say, sage is one of the most versatile herbs known and the extent of its significance is worldwide; therefore there is a strong international market and demand for more (Geneva et al., 2010).

Growing Sage

The prerequisites for growing sage are very minimal. Sage can grow well in non-fertile soils, and there is no universal ‘golden’ fertilizer for sage, as every farmer's field reacts a little differently (Vinje 2022). It is a perennial plant, meaning it does not need to be replanted annually. However, to ensure sage plants last 7-10 years and give high yields each harvest, it is recommended to add a balanced fertilizer 5:5:5 (NPK) (Geneva et al., 2010). Once done growing, the sage plant can be harvested twice or possibly three times a year (Vinje, 2022). The most effective method for growing sage is direct seeding during the rainy season, meaning, you plant the sage seeds directly in the soil (OMAFRA 2012). Before you do that, the first step is to choose the growing location strategically. As mentioned, sage is a hardy plant and very drought-tolerant; therefore it must be grown on soil that drains well and does not get waterlogged (Geneva et al., 2010). Sage is able to thrive with a minimum of 300 mm of annual precipitation with a soil pH range between 5.0 - 7.5. The planting location must also be in direct sunlight (OMAFRA 2012). Once you have your location, prepare the soil by removing all the weeds by hand (Vinje, 2022). Unfortunately, sage attracts a lot of weed, and hand-weeding must be done at least once a week to ensure the weeds that emerge are removed and do not affect the crop (Ibid). The next step is to plant the sage seeds. It is recommended that you use 400 - 500 grams of sage seeds per hectare when planting the seeds in the field, and give them a good watering immediately (Piccaglia et al., 1997). Although the plants will survive and grow under drought, weekly irrigation may help young sage plants grow which in some cases result in faster growth, and potentially a third yearly harvest (Ibid). That being said, depending on the size of your field, and access to water, you may want to water your crops less than weekly or even bi-weekly (Ibid). To harvest the sage, collect the leaves from the crop by simply cutting the leaves off with scissors or by plucking them by hand (Vinje 2022). If you have access to fertilizer and irrigation, add both new fertilizer and water to the crops directly after harvest which will help the sage regenerate quickly, thus beginning the process again (Piccaglia et al., 1997) (Vinje 2022).

Figure 3. Rows of sage (stock image)

Drying Sage (Essential Oil Yield)

When harvesting sage, the second harvest of the year, usually late into the dry season, will typically yield more leaves and also a higher concentration of oil (Raab 2009). To maximize the oil yield from a harvest, you must dry the leaves out (Ibid). To do so, tie small bundles of sage together and hang them in a dry area with lots of air circulation (Ibid). A good spot for drying is a kitchen or a semi-outdoor area with a roof. An efficient drying process may take up to 2 weeks; however depending on available space, you can dry lots of sage at once.

Figure 3. Bundles of sage (stock image)

Figure 4. Dried sage leaves (stock image)

Income Analyses

Smallholder farmers that live in typically dry regions should take advantage of sage cultivation for several reasons. Although weeding the plants frequently can be a tedious task, the overall growing and drying operation of sage is relatively simple in comparison to other crops. This particularly benefits women as the task of growing and drying sage is typically seen by men as crafty, artful and unique. Women are typically the most proficient family member in crafty and culinary settings, which is necessary when overseeing the drying process. The opportunity to sell dried sage to local restaurants and at farmers markets will vary depending on location, however, as mentioned, sage’s versatility allows for several uses, thus creating a higher demand. It is recommended that farmers sell sage leaves or the essential oils in small bottles or jars locally as this is the quickest and most common way to earn income. Some local parties that may be interested in smallholder’s sage are restaurants, cafes, hotels, herbalists or apothecaries stores, as well as common people that browse markets. Oftentimes, access to international distribution is unrealistic for smallholder farmers, as this method of income can require several logistical and business connections, access to finance, phytosanitary certificates, scale as well as consistency. Therefore, this option is not widely available for smallholder farmers living in remote areas, however, perhaps through cooperatives and/or a government marketing board, the international market for sage is strong and shipping out dried leaves or oils can be sure to generate a profit in the long term. Selling sage at any level can be profitable, because of how cheap sage is to grow as it does not require lots of fertilizer and pesticides unlike other cash crops.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the cultivation of sage in regions that experience severe drought has significant potential to help smallholder farmers that have a hard time growing other crops. As mentioned previously, sages' ability to grow well and yield large amounts throughout the year are quite remarkable and also easy. As an extremely versatile herb with medicinal, culinary, cosmetic, aromatic and cultural significance, a commercial sage growing endeavor is highly recommended to smallholder farmers who live in dry conditions.

Practical Resources to Get Started

OMAFRA. (Oct 2012). “Specialty Cropportunities: Agronomics of Sage” https://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/CropOp/en/herbs/culinary/sage.html

Raab, C (Sep 2009). How to Dry Herbs. Oregon State University Extension Services https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/how-dry-herbs

Vinje, E. (Aug 2022). How to Grow Sage Plant: Complete Beginners Guide to Sage. Planet Natural Research Center 1-6. https://www.planetnatural.com/growing-sage/

References

1. Franke, A., Mathinya, V., Van De Ven, G., & Giller, K. (2022). Productivity and constraints of small-scale crop farming in the summer rainfall region of South Africa. Outlook on Agriculture, 51,(2), 139-154.

2. Hamidpour, M. (2014). Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Property of Sage (Salvia) to Prevent and Cure Illnesses such as Obesity, Diabetes, Depression, Dementia, Lupus, Autism, Heart Disease, and Cancer. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 4 (2) 82-88

3. Kassa, B. A., Abdi, A. T. (2022). Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practice by Small-Scale Farming Households in Wondo Genet, Southern Ethiopia. SAGE Open, 12,(3) 1-13

4. Lopresti, A. (2017). Salvia (Sage): A Review of its Potential Cognitive-Enhancing and Protective Effects. Drugs in R&D, 17(1), 53-64.

5. Maria, G., Ira S., Madlen, B., Nadezhda M., Petranka Y. (Feb 2010). Effects of Foliar Fertilization and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization on Salvia officinalis L. growth, Antioxidant Capacity, and Essential Oil Composition. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 90.(4) 696-702

6. Mohammed, H. (Sep 2021). Sage, Salvia officinalis L., Constituents, Hepatoprotective Activity, and Cytotoxicity Evaluations of the Essential Oils Obtained from Fresh and Differently Timed Dried Herbs: A Comparative Analysis. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26, 5757, 1-9

7. OMAFRA. (Oct 2012). “Specialty Cropportunities: Agronomics of Sage” https://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/CropOp/en/herbs/culinary/sage.html

8. Piccaglia, R., Marotti, M., & Dellacecca, V. (1997). Effect of Planting Density and Harvest Date on Yield and Chemical Composition of Sage Oil. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 9.(2) 187-191

9. Raab, C (Sep 2009). How to Dry Herbs. Oregon State University Extension Services https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/how-dry-herbs

10. Vinje, E. (Aug 2022). How to Grow Sage Plant: Complete Beginners Guide to Sage. Planet Natural Research Center 1-6. https://www.planetnatural.com/growing-sage/