Chittaratha can be harvested 36-42 months after planting.

Cut and remove the shoot portion and carefully dig out the rhizomes and roots. Harvesting is very difficult due to strong and extensive root ramification.

Separate the roots, clean the rhizomes, and cut them into 5 cm long pieces. The cut pieces are then dried in the sun for 3-5 days to bring down the moisture to 10 per cent before marketing.

The average recovery on drying is 25 per cent.