Lemon grass is a perennial crop and having oil production for 5 years once planted. Lemon grass plants are hardy and grow under a variety of conditions. The most ideal climatic condition is a warm and humid climate with plenty of sunshine. It can be grown in poor, hardy and even rocky soils and also in the hill slopes. It smells sweet and has a fresh, lemony aroma with a citrus flavor. It is a common ingredient in Thai cooking and a bug repellant. Lemon grass oil is anti-bacterial, anti – oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-cancer too. It contains high levels of an aromatic tarpene known as linalool which is said to be as effective as chemo in targeting cancer cells. Lemon grass oil is used in aroma therapy to freshen air, reducing stress and uplifting mood. It is also used as a folk remedy to promote sleep, relieve pain and boosting immunity. It may reduce cancer risk of a person if taken properly. The citrola in lemon grass is thought to have potent anti-cancer abilities against some cancer cell lines. A 2009 study published in the journal namely “Chemico-Biological interactions” revealed that lemon grass essential oil is effective in targeting at least 12 different human cancer cell lines. Animal trials showed that direct injection of lemon grass essential oil inhibited cancer tumors.
| Plant Name | Lemon Grass |
|---|---|
| Species | Cymbopogon Flexuosus |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Part used in Lemongrass | Oil extracted from leaves and stems |
Lemon grass plants are hardy and grow under a variety of conditions. The most ideal climatic condition is a warm and humid climate with plenty of sunshine. It can be grown in poor, hardy and even rocky soils and also in the hill slopes.
The essential oil of this plant which contains chemical compounds neral and citral is valued for its fragrance and for a number of traditional medicinal and household uses.
Some popular varieties include Sugandhi(OD-19), Pragati, RRL - 16 , PRC-1, CKP-25, CIM Krishan and CIM Sikhar
Lemongrass well grows in loamy soil with PH range 5 to 8. It is a tropical plant and its growing period requires abundant sunshine. We avoid frost prone area for its cultivation because of its sensitivity to frost condition.
Lemongrass can be grown in heavy fertile soil to poor sandy loams; it can be grown in wide variety of soils. The ideal pH range for its cultivation is 5 to 7.5. It can maximum tolerate pH of 9.5. Soil with water logging results in poor yield and less oil. So it thrives best in well drained loamy soil.
| Elevation | Up to 300 meters |
|---|---|
| Annual Rainfall | 700-3000mm |
| Ideal temperature | 15-38 degree centigrade |
Lemongrass can only be propagated through slips (saplings). Healthy treated slips at least 2 years old are the best choice for commercial farming. It is in good practice to use at least two year old slips for propagation.
We plow the land 2-3 times by using tractors until the soil becomes fine-tilth because by doing so, it gives better aeration. Unwanted plants or weeds should be removed. After putting the manure, the land should be laid into beds .To avoid water stagnation trowel and level the field. Lemongrass slips should be sown directly (40-50 mm insertion). We get lemon grass transplanted into the field during rainy season. Established healthy seedling or slips of 20-50 cm long should be planted during rainy season having distance in row of 50-60 cm apart with plant distance of 50-60 cm within the row. Lemongrass slips or saplings should be planted firmly not very deeply in the soil. To avoid transplantation shock, transplanting is preferred in evening hour. Light irrigation is preferred after transplanting .Within 10-12 days of planting, gap filling should be done. To avoid mortality rate, it is preferred to plant 2 slips /seedling .The optimum sapling rate per hectare is 45000.
To get more yield, irrigation should be at right stage. Lemongrass can be grown at both condition as rain-fed crop or under irrigated conditions .Flood irrigation is best suited for this crop .The irrigation frequency depends on climatic conditions and soil moisture holding capacity .In hot and dry climate , it requires irrigation at 10-12 days interval .Stop irrigation 7 to 8 days before harvesting the grass.
Farmyard manure of 10 tons/ha (applied during land preparation) and NPK 20:50:40 kg/ha .Top dressing should be done with "N"(nitrogen) of 15 kg /ha in 3 intervals, which should be 3, 6 and 9 month after planting.
Following pests and diseases are found in Lemongrass cultivation -
The Location: The site for the project has been selected after very careful observation of various factors . The availability of correct cultivation area, electricity, manpower are the advantages of this site at Chukru,Block Torpa,Khunti.
For good practice, it is advised to use wilt grass for 24 hr at least. Wilting allows the larger quantity of grass to be packed, due to wilting, moisture content gets reduced and more oil can be extracted , thus economizing the fuel use .The equipment for steam distillation consists of a boiler to produce steam, a condenser, 1 to 3 separators and a distillation tub. It is preferred to use chopped grass into shorter length ,to obtain the maximum yield of oil and to facilitate the release of oil, further advantage of chopping grass is that more grass can be charged into the container .The steam is allowed to pass into the container with the steam pressure from 1.5 to 2 kg in the boiler .The mixture of water and lemongrass oil passes into the condenser .The distillate collects in the separator as the distillation process goes on .As the oil is lighter than water and insoluble floats on the top of the separator and continuously drawn off, Lemongrass Oil is then filtered .
The promoter, Apna Anantha Farming Private Limited (mobile No. – 7739648275/7903434046) is well versed with the required plant & machinery, implements & Manufacturing process. The unit has already procured the necessary plants & equipment of high quality for manufacture of quality products which is further helping the unit in establishing the product in the market.
The raw materials required for this project are the Aromatic Plants Leaves which are in abundance with the promoter, M/s Ananta Farming.
The auxiliary systems required for lemon grass farming are distillation plants or units, water pumps, D.G sets, electrical connections, equipments / appliances, testing and laboratory equipments, weighing machines, General Tools & implements, agriculture equipments etc. and the promoter, Apna Anantha Farming Private Limited (mobile No. – 7739648275/7903434046) is having all these.
There are large numbers of different essential oils can be processed which can be manufactured but at present the company has decided to concentrate on the Lemongrass oil and related products. This company will manufacture various products as per the market demand in future.
The promoter, Apna Anantha Farming Private Limited (mobile No. – 7739648275/7903434046) is having all kinds of Technocrats, Managers, Technicians, skilled/ unskilled staff and we are guided by professional consultants/scientists. A Practical and scientific approach will be adopted for the project implementation. A bar chart will be drawn making proper interaction of the various activities and every care will be taken to avoid time overrun and the cost overrun as well.
The company's site location at Torpa, Khunti, which is such that manpower is not a problem.
Promoter has been setup with the only moto to produce aromatic oil items of the best quality and induce new ideas and effectiveness at a comparatively low priced for the benefit of the masses. The company is having about 120 acres of land to cultivate moringa/drumstick and lemon grass and extract lemongrass oil there from.
It should be harvested at right stage for high oil yield. Crops gets ready within 3-6 month after planting .Harvesting should be carried at an interval of 3-4 months and up to 5 years. Cutting of grass should be done by leaving 15 cm from the ground level. Keep the grass in shade for 3-4 days after harvesting. Then send it to steam distillation for oil extraction.
For good practice, it is advised to use wilt grass for 24 hr at least. Wilting allows the larger quantity of grass to be packed, due to wilting, moisture content gets reduced and more oil can be extracted, thus economizing the fuel use. The equipment for steam distillation consists of a boiler to produce steam, a condenser, 1 to 3 separators and a distillation tub. The distillation tub is made up mild steel or stainless steel, and perforated bottom over which grass rest. Steam inlet pipe at the bottom of the tub. A removable lid is fitted on the top .Loading and unloading can be done in perforated cage with iron chains, which can be lowered in the container with the help of chain-pulley .varieties of condenser are available, but tubular condenser are best among them .The condenser is having one inlet and one outlet by which cold water is made to flow through the chamber to cool the pipes ,when the distillate flow through them . It is preferred to use chopped grass into shorter length ,to obtain the maximum yield of oil and to facilitate the release of oil, further advantage of chopping grass is that more grass can be charged into the container .The steam is allowed to pass into the container with the steam pressure from 1.5 to 2 kg in the boiler .The mixture of water and lemongrass oil passes into the condenser .The distillate collects in the separator as the distillation process goes on .As the oil is lighter than water and insoluble floats on the top of the separator and continuously drawn off, Lemongrass Oil is then filtered.
Many factors depends on the yield of the crops ,factors like cultivar, plant age , soil , irrigation , climate and cultivation practice. However an average yield of 50 - 65 tons/ha/year can be obtained under ideal conditions. 220-250 kg /ha may be obtained from 2nd year in case of well irrigated crops. Oil yield is low in first year, thereafter oil yield increases and gradually decreases after 4th year.
| Plantation in 01 acre of land | 15000 plants |
|---|---|
| Planting period | June- August & February-March |
| Cutting Period | 90-100 days and thereafter 70-90 days. |
| Head | 1st six month | 9th month | 12th month | 2nd year | 3rd year | 4th year | 5th year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Preparation | 5,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Plants purchase cost/15,000 plants | 30,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Layout | 2,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fertilizer | 2,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 | 8,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 |
| Irrigation | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 |
| Agricultural work | 5,000 | 5,000 | 5,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 |
| Land-Rent | 5,000 | - | - | 6,000 | 7,000 | 8,000 | 9,000 |
| Cutting / Storing | 3,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 |
| Processing | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 | 16,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 |
| Total Expenditure | 61,000 | 19,000 1 | 9,000 | 82,000 | 1,02,000 | 1,03,000 | 1,29,000 |
| Oil Production | 70 kg | 100kg | 100kg | 400kg | 500kg | 400kg | 400kg |
| Sale Rate of Oil | 1200/kg | 1200/kg | 1200/kg | 1200/kg | 1200/kg | 1200/kg | 1200/kg |
| Sale Price | 84,000 | 1,20,000 | 1,20,000 | 4,80,000 | 6,00,000 | 4,80,000 | 4,80,000 |
| Net Profit | 23,000 | 1,01,000 | 1,01,000 | 3,98,000 | 4,98,000 | 3,77,000 | 3,51,000 |
NOTE: - Plant once planted shall work for 05 years and thereafter we shall plant them again and the oil production and expenditure incurred shall be in the same process. We have taken the sale rate of oil as the fixed rate of Rs.1200/- per kilogram, but that may change as per the demand and production.
The Project has been proposed to set up in the name and style of M/s Ananta Farming. The unit is going to be a Distillation unit to manufacture essential oil. Hydrosol, deoiled grass compost and other related items. Being enthused and impressed by the success of the guidelines of the Industrial policy and the conductive industrial environment of the state , the promoter is an educated and experienced person and has the zeal and capacity for setting up the unit. The proposed site is a completely pollution free area in the lishgreen valley of the road with river bank. There is no such unit in the area. Therefore, realizing the need for such a project, the promoters have decided to set up the unit.
The Promoters have observed certain vital points based on the feedback received from the market. The need for this project arises from the market response, established demand and their future projections with the massive activity and awareness for the essential oils going on, The requirement of day to day health care of the human beings, observing the various facts and considering the vast scope, this segment of industry offers, the promoters of the industry have decided to set-up the unit which will care to the needs of large section of society.
Aromatic industry has been playing a critical role in the earth eco system. Present day cosmetic industry has become highly dependent on various essential oils, as these have become indispensable natural items for beauty professionals, mainly for various skin treatment and beautification therapy. Also various FMCG products likes soap, shampoo, hand wash is using essential oils to provide skin friendly organic product. There are several factors driving the growth of this market in India. Due to the advantage of natural ingredients and no side effects, essential oils are preferred over synthetic aromatic oils. With the current general trends towards naturals and herbals types of products, the demand for these oils is increasing at very fast rate. An easy growth of these raw material grasses in the state of Jharkhand makes the area a choice place for setting up such units.
The market potential in India and abroad include the driving forces that are creating the demand for Essential oils and contributing to an increased demand for these products. The global essential oils market size was valued at USD 18.6 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4% in terms of revenue from 2021 to 2028. The market is expected to be driven by increasing demand from major end-use industries, such as food and beverage, personal care and cosmetics and aromatherapy. Unlike most conventional medicines and drugs, essential oils have no major side effects. Such traits of the product are projected to be the major driving factor for market growth.
In the very initial stage the products will be marketed through various existing dealers and distributors dealing with the same products. Only some sales person from our organization will be employed in the state of north east India to promote our products. In Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Chatra, Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, the unit will appoint its own sales personnel for business promotion and dealers & distributors to deal in its products. It is hoped that almost 70 - 80% of our initial output can be marketed in and around Jharkhand itself. We have also planning that after the commencement of full fledged production and inauguration in market, we will establish our own marketing division by employing efficient personnel to capture the major share in the domestic market.
