Geranium Cultivation: The cost of this new technology is reduced
Plants have started growing up to 95 percent in the new method
Geranium cultivation is being done in many districts of Uttar Pradesh like Sambhal, Badaun, Kasganj by a new method developed by CSIR-CIMAP.
Know what is the new technology and how farmers are benefiting from it.
The scientific name of geranium is ‘Pilargonium graviolens’. It is originally a plant from Africa. Its oil is so potent that it is used all over the world in numerous herbal products, bio-medicines and aroma-therapy. Geranium oil is in demand all over the world. Geranium can be cultivated mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and North-Eastern regions. In many districts like Sambhal, Budaun, Kasganj of Uttar Pradesh, successful cultivation of geranium is being done by the new method developed by CSIR-CIMAP.
The cost of preparing the plant increased from Rs 35 to Rs 2
CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, after 8-9 years of hard work, developed such a technology for geranium cultivation in 2018 due to which its cost has come down drastically. Usually its new plant is prepared from geranium plants. Geranium plants were very expensive to the farmers due to the failure of plants in rain. But with new technology, now a new plant of geranium can be prepared in just two rupees, whereas earlier its cost was about 35 rupees.
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About 16,000 plants needed per acre
Earlier, to keep the geranium plants safe, an air-conditioned glass house was required. But now with the development of ‘protective shed technology’ of polyhouses, farmers can prepare it on their own farms at a much lower cost. About 16,000 plants per acre are required for the cultivation of geranium. For this, a polyhouse of 50-60 square meters has to be built. It costs around 8-10 thousand rupees.
CSIR-CIMAP also provides saplings
CSIR-CIMAP is also providing saplings to the farmers under its ‘Aroma Mission’ to promote cultivation of geranium through ‘semi protective shed’ made of polyhouse or polythene, so that nursery of new plants i.e. ‘planting material’ gets ready. The ‘Semi Protective Shed’ is such a safe shelter, where neither rain water can fill nor rain showers fall directly on the geranium plants.
Know what is ‘Semi Protective Shade’
The ‘Semi Protective Shed’ is prepared from 200 micron transparent polythene with the help of bamboo sticks available with the farmer. Above this, one meter part is kept open so that along with protection from rain water, air flows for the plants. It is made in a high field or by filling soil on the ground and making a high platform and build it on it. Geranium plants are planted in the field at the distance of one and a half to two feet.
Soil and Weather for Geraniums
Geranium grows well in loamy and sandy loam soils. Geranium requires less irrigation. The most suitable time for its cultivation is considered to be from November to June. According to Dr. Saudan Singh, agricultural scientist, CSIR-CIMAP is trying to promote geranium as an alternative to menthol under aromatic crops.
It is very important to protect the geranium plants from rain because only plants saved from rain start preparing nursery from October. For geranium cultivation, nursery grown plants can be transplanted during November to February. But scientists consider February as the favourable time according to the crop cycle. In the old method, the cost was also high because earlier in nursery, where only 85 percent of the plants could grow, in the new method the same ratio has started increasing to 95 percent. We will tell you about the situation and possibilities for Geranium cultivation on the second part of this article.
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