To avoid heavy loss due to erratic rainfall patterns leading to recurrent drought or drought like situation and in places depredation by wildlife and fluctuating price realisation of traditional crops leading to huge patches of land remaining uncultivated and fallow, farmers in and around of the Satkosia wildlife sanctuary in Angul and Athmallik blocks as well as farmers in Chhendipada blocks of Angul district are now opting for cultivation of aromatic plants.
In the current year, two truck-loads of planting materials in the shape of slips and seeds of these aromatic plants have been supplied from CSIR-CIMAP, lucknow, to farmers of Angul district. Besides distributing the planting materials, scientists from CSIR-CIMAP are also disseminating agronomical practices specific to these crops to farmers through demonstration in their field. The process of implementation and monitoring is being facilitated by the district office of the Nabard, scientists from KVK, Angul, personnel from the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), a national level NGO working in Angul district, and farmers from both Angul and Dhenkanal districts who are already cultivating and reaping benefit from these crops.
Recently the CSIR-CIMAP , a pioneer institute working on agro-practice and variety development of aromatic and medicinal plants, has lunched the Aroma Mission programme with the aim to improve farmers’ income in water scarce region of India, including Odisha. In Odisha, the farmers are facing acute agriculture- related issues leading to huge patches of land remaining uncultivated and fallow. This in turn leads to farmers’ distress and migration out of villages which disturbs the rural social fabric. To ameliorate these issues, with the active support of Foundation of Ecological Security ,the CSIR-CIMAP ,under the leadership of Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany, has initiated cultivation of aromatic plants in Kishorenagar block of Angul district to demonstrate the farmers the cultivation of aroma (essential oils) bearing plants viz. lemongrass, citronella, vetiver (khus) and palmarosa in the year 2014. Afterwards, cultivation of such aromatic plants was successfully spread to the river banks/ flood panes of Brahmani river around Banasingh of Dhenkanal district in the year 2016 where presently, more than 100 acres of land have been brought under the cultivation of these crops. Subsequently, the CSIR-CIMAP has also set up two essential oil distillation units in these areas, one in Kishorenagar block of Angul and one at Banasingh of Dhenkanal. Now, the farmers who are into cultivation of these crops are realizing a net profit of more than Rs 1 lakh per acre in a year.
Essential oils are having high demand in India and abroad and are used as ingredients in modern / herbal medicines, cosmetic products, mosquito repellants and anti-insecticide formulations, etc. The process of installation of another two distillation units inside the Satkosia Sanctuary area and Chhendipada block is also in progress.
The farmers are benefitted as the aromatic plants can sustain in the field for more than 5 years and can yield up to 4-5 harvest (cutting) in a year. They are quick growing and can attain a height of up to 4 to 5 feet in two and a half months.These crops are generally not browsed or grazed by herbivores, both domestic and wild, which include stray cattle, elephant, deer, monkey and wild boar etc. These crops are not chemical fertilizer dependent and so hardly need application of any fertilizer. Besides, they need minimal rainfall / water for their healthy growth and are free from attacks from pests and weeds.
Further, cultivation of these crops covers lands which hitherto are lying fallow and uncultivated, requires minimum labour which saves labour costs and most importantly, provides definite and assured income to the farmers without heavy investment. This programme has received necessary support of the Angul district administration.