(News) Lemongrass Comes as Boon For Drought-hit Bundelkhand Farmers

Now, Bundelkhand farmers can increase their income by growing a new variety of lemongrass - 'suvarna'. The speciality of the grass is that it can grow well in dry regions. The variety was developed by the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in 2009. The institute had tested it in the fields in Jhansi and the results were fruitful.

The results showed that one hectare herb yielded 175 kg oil in a year, thereby giving a net profit of Rs 80,000 per hectare. The variety contains 1% oil with 80% citral content. It gives profusely green and fast growing herb with four cuts in a year. In order to disseminate variety into farmers' fields, CIMAP conceptualize the sponsored project to get fund from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Lucknow.

NABARD has sanction and supported the project to disseminate the variety among as many as 50 farmers of Kumhrar (Moth), Baruasagar, Jhansi, UP for on-farm demonstration initially on 200 sq mt area. Farmers will be provided planting material and on-spot training of cultivation and distillation.

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Courtesy: indiatimes.com