A large number of women living in rural area of Bishunpur Block in Gumla District of Jharkhand transforming their lives and setting example of livelihood entrepreneurship at local level by cultivating medicinal crop of Lemon Grass which made Prime Minister Narendra Modi to applaud the effort of the women in his monthly radio programme Man Ki Baat.
In his address, the Prime Minister explained how rural women are creating new dimensions of success through small products at the local level.
Under the Rural Development Department of the State Government, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSSPS) run Johar Project the rural women have been linked to Lemon Grass farming under the Livelihoods Mission.
About 500 sisters of Sakhi Mandal are earning well through Lemon Grass cultivation. Rural women are earning in lakhs every year through the cultivation of lemon grass. After taking loan from a financial institution, Sumati Devi resident of Rahkuba Toli of Bishunpur started farming of Lemon Grass in its 60 decimals of land.
Sumati informed her that she had never even heard of the name of Lemon Grass, but now after knowing the benefits of it, she is advising others to cultivate it because Lemongrass earns like gold on barren land. "We were trained through the rural service center of Aajeevika Mission and I started Lemon Grass farming in January this year and despite the lockdown, so far I earned about Rs 1 lakh 10 thousand, while expenditure on Lemon Grass farming has been only Rs 20 thousand," she added.
Similarly, Rupamurthi Devi resident of Nawagarh Sirka village has also cultivated Lemon Grass in her 50 decimals of land and has earned about Rs 1 lakh 45 thousand. Rupamurthi Devi states that her economic condition has improved with the cultivation of lemongrass for the last two years.
"We got training from the Rural Service Center of Women Farmer Empowerment Project and now we are earning well by selling Lemongrass," she added.
There are thousands of women farmers like Basanti Devi, Rupa Murthy Devi and others across the State who are being made self-sufficient by cultivating lemongrass through the Women Farmer Empowerment Project. Under the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana and Johar Project, more than 16,500 women farmers are being encouraged to cultivate lemon grass in 31 blocks of 16 districts of the State. Around 11,50 Vanopaj Mitras have been trained to provide technical support and suggestions to the farmers who serve at the village level for training and guiding the farmers as master trainers.
The importance of lemon grass or lemon grass is due to its fragrant leaves. Oil is obtained through vapor distillation of leaves which is used in cosmetic, cosmetic, pesticides, medicines. Use of lem grass is also effective as an antioxidant.