RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Sept. 28: Deputy Commissioner of Khunti Shashi Ranjan today set the ball rolling to grow lemongrass in 200 acre land of six blocks of his district by planting five samplings of the plants at Maranghada and paved the path for production of aromatic oil which worth Rs 1100 to Rs 1200 per litre in the market.
“The purpose behind starting this exercise is to benefit farmers who take only one crop from its agricultural land in a year due to lack of irrigation facilities and face financial crisis. By planting lemongrass a farmer can earn Rs 80000 to Rs 90000 per acre. The cultivation of lemongrass does not require much water for irrigation and thus is very beneficial for farmers,” DC Ranjan said after he planted the saplings.
About seven years ago a similar experiment was done in Torpa but that remained unsuccessful. When asked about the same, DC Ranjan said: “Until the cultivation of lemongrass is not done in large amounts, it is not beneficial. As far as I know, the previous experiment remained unsuccessful as cultivation was not done in a big area.”
A voluntary organisation, Sewa Welfare Society, is providing assistance to the administration in getting the plantation work successfully done. When contacted its president Ajay Sharma for his comment on this, he echoed DC Ranjan and added that the previous variety was not up to mark.
“In Torpa the plant was of inferior quality. From that quality, one tonne of grass used to give only 2 litres. This new Krishna variety developed by Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, popularly known as CIMAP, Lucknow, produces 10 litres of oil from one tone of grass,” Sharma said.
A locality resident said the work started by the district administration will be of great help in putting a check on Naxal activities in the area.
“Youths like growing opium in the area with the support of extremists in the district for cash. With the introduction of lemongrass farming, the district administration can put a check on opium cultivation and thus create a hurdle in the growth of Naxalism in the district,” the resident said.
“The administration has also installed a lemon oil distillation plant in the district which has come as a great help for farmers,” the resident said.
