Lemongrass: Know important things related to lemongrass cultivation from Professor Dr. Pankaj Lavania, from production to processing

Lemongrass: In an area like Bundelkhand where there is a water problem and a large amount of land remains barren, lemongrass cultivation can prove to be a boon for the farmers here. It can be cultivated easily even in less water.

Even in barren land where there is no crop, farmers can earn good money by planting medicinal plants. One such medicinal plant is lemongrass. Barren land can also be made fertile with the cultivation of lemongrass. It, also known as China grass and Malabar grass, is a medicinal plant which is rich in vitamins and minerals. 

It is used in making tea. Also, an oil called citral is extracted from its plant. It is used in many types of products. Therefore, the demand for lemongrass is gradually increasing. In such a situation, cultivation of lemongrass is beneficial for farmers, especially the farmers of Rajasthan and Bundelkhand. Where there is a shortage of water and a large amount of land remains barren. How farmers can earn extra income from this barren land by cultivating lemongrass. In this regard, Professor Dr. Pankaj Lavania of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University talked to Kisan of India correspondent Sarvesh Bundeli. 

Lemongrass makes barren land fertile 

In an area like Bundelkhand where there is a problem of water and a large amount of land remains barren, cultivation of lemongrass can prove to be a boon for the farmers here. It can be cultivated easily even in less water. Professor Dr. Pankaj Lavania of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University tells how his institute is cultivating lemongrass and making farmers and students aware about it. He says that he planted lemongrass on rocky land. For this, first the stones were removed and the land was cleared and then lemongrass was planted. He tells that lemongrass can be planted even on such land where nothing can grow, i.e. on barren land. It can also be planted on the sides of the field. Planting lemongrass increases the fertility of the land. 

How to sow lemongrass? 

Professor Dr. Pankaj Lavania emphasises that before sowing lemongrass, plow the field well. Then level it. It is sown through seeds or slips. Usually slips are planted. In this, a distance of 90 cm is kept between rows and 60 cm between trees. 90-110 slips are made in a year. Once planted, it can be harvested every three months.

One cutting can be taken in the first summer i.e. in March, then in September and then the third cutting can be taken in December or January. One plant of this is up to 2 meters long. Lemongrass can also be planted on the ridges of the fields. It is good to plant it before the rains. It can be planted in rows in the middle of the field. After preparing the field, it slips are planted in the ground at a depth of 5 to 8 cm with the help of wood. If a little fertilizer is added to this crop, then the production is good. If the moisture remains in the field, then the crop can be harvested 4 times. Due to less moisture, less oil comes out of it.

Benefit to farmers  

Dr. Pankaj Lavania says that cultivation is a good way for farmers to get additional income. They can earn from the land which they leave unused. They can set up an industry there. He tells that essential oil is made from it, which is used in making products like perfume, soap, incense sticks.

Along with lemongrass cultivation, farmers can also become entrepreneurs by setting up an incense stick industry. Bamboo is required to make incense sticks. The oil extracted from lemongrass is mixed with bamboo to make incense sticks. Lemongrass is also used in lemon tea along with incense sticks, so farmers can also set up an industry based on lemon tea, which will also provide employment to other people of the village.

Irrigation 

Although lemongrass does not require a lot of water, but Dr. Pankaj Lavania says that whenever lemongrass is cut, the plants should be watered immediately after that. This leads to good new germination. There is no need to water during the rainy season. Water can be given once a month in winter and in summer it should be given every 15 days. If there is ample water in the field, the crop will be good, even if there is a shortage of water, farmers can get at least 2 cuttings in a year with only rainwater.

oil price 

Oil is extracted by extracting lemongrass. Its oil is sold in the market at the rate of 1500 to 1600 rupees per liter. There is a lot of demand for it, because it is used in making many things. Professor Pankaj Lavania tells that there is an oil extraction machine installed in the university as well. If farmers want, they can cut lemongrass and bring it here and extract oil. 

Insects and diseases 

Professor Pankaj Lavania says that the specialty of lemongrass is that it is not attacked by any kind of insect, nor do animals eat it, due to which this crop does not suffer any kind of damage.

Training farmers 

Professor Dr. Pankaj Lavania says that there are many training programs for farmers in Rani Lakshmi Bai University to help them cultivate lemongrass and establish industries related to it. Farmers are also taken to workshops and industries and they are given information. Not only this, the university students are also made to prepare products so that they can get help in setting up an enterprise in the future.

Processing 

Lemongrass and its oil are in great demand in the international market. A large amount of lemongrass oil is exported from India. About 700 tonnes of lemongrass oil is exported every year, so subsidy is also being given by the government to encourage farmers to cultivate lemongrass.

Production Lemongrass cultivation in one acre of land produces about 150-200 tonnes of leaves, from which 100-150 tonnes of oil is extracted.