Status of Essential Oil Production in

Chhattisgarh: Present & Future

As the consumer is demanding more traceability, community based projects in the country is ready to

revive and re-invent the Indian essential oil Industry. The article gives an overview of the essential oil

production in chhattigarh, a newly formed state in central India at its grassroots and how the

marginalized section of the Indian society is influencing dynamics of production.

Chhattisgarh State, with Raipur as its capital came into existence on 1st November, 2000 by carving

16 districts of Chhattisgarh region from the erstwhile state of Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh is

divided into three distinct agro-cimatic zone viz

a. Northern Hill Zones: 900m

b. Chhattisgarh Plains: 300m

c. Bastar Plateau: 600m

In the north of the state are the mighty Satpura Ranges, in the center the plains with River Mahanadi

and its tributaries and is the south is the plateau of Bastar.

Agri-climatically, the state has immense potential for development of all kinds of Aromatic crops.

Apart from the agro-climatic conditions other factors which make Chhattisgarh a lucrative

destination for setting up an Essential Oil Industry are

• No Sales Tax on Essential oil Sale/Purchase

• One of the cheapest un-skilled Labour in the country

• Land suitable for perennial aromatic grasses

• Hindi Speaking State

• Largely Peace Loving People contrary to the picture portrayed by the Media

Once India’s food production targets were met in 2002, the government launched National

Horticulture Mission. This mission aimed at increasing production of horticulture products. Since

fruit trees had a gestation time of 4-5 years, the aromatics crops became the preferred choice.

Intercropping aromatic crops in fruit orchards thus gained popularity.

Some Industrial houses in the country leverages this opportunity and entered into tri-party

agreement with the State Horticulture Mission more commonly referred to as the buy-back

agreement for purchase of Essential Oils. Some aromatic crops like vetiver and patchouli which

required skilled processing were purchased in biomass form and processed in a centralized

processing unit setup by private companies.

At present extension of aromatic crops is being done under the following government run programs.

• National Horticulture Mission

• National Medicinal Plant Mission

• Wadi Yogna (NABARD) – Only for Tribals

• National Rural Employment Gurantee Act

• National Watershed Mission

I. MAJOR OILS

1. NARARMOTHA (cyprus scariosus)

Nagarmotha Oil has been the flagship essential oil of Chhattisgarh and has been distilled from

Nagarmotha roots obtained from the wild. It is an obnoxious weed which can be found growing on

the banks of rivulets which become visible once the water starts receding down after monsoon.

Nagarmotha weeds on banks of rivulets Collection

Cleaning Storage

Nagarmotha is one of the most important NTFP (Non-timber forest Produce) from Chhattsigarh and

is also a major source of cash income for locals. Nagarmotha roots cleaned, dried and stored by

collectors and are sold at weekly markets to traders as and when cash is required.

Production of Roots per Annum…...? 8000 MT

Production of Essential Oil…............? 4 MT

Average Price………………………..? Rs.7800/Kg

2. PALMAROSA (cymbopogon martini)

Nursery Matured Plantation

Harvested Grass Charging

Crop

Attributes Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora

Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP

Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs

No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2

Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100

Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT

Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

3. CITONELLA (cymbopogon winteranius)

Harvested Field After Hoeing & Fertigation

Infected Plantation Just Planted

Crop

Attributes Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora

Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP

Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs

No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2

Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100

Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT

Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

4. LEMONGRASS (cymbopogon flexuous)

Slip Preparation before planting Point of Sale

Double Tank units popular in some area Lemongrass As Intercrop with Basil

Crop

Attributes Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora

Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP

Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs

No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2

Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100

Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT

Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

5. EUCALYPTUS CITRIODORA

Un-harvested 1 Year Old Plantation 2 Months Old Tree

Nursery Citriodora on Forest Land

Crop

Attributes Palmrosa Citronella Lemongrass E.Citriodora

Successful Variety……….? PRC-1 Jal-Pallavi Krishna CIMAP

Duration of Crop.............? 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 4 Yrs 25 Yrs

No of Harvests / Yr ……...? 2 3 3-4 2

Total Acreage Nov-2011…? 570 435 1600 1100

Total Production in 2011..? 26 MT 30 MT 125 MT 60 MT

Average Price/Kg in 2011? Rs.1700 Rs.860/Kg Rs.680/Kg Rs.740/kg

II. MINOR OILS

Wild Collection Cultivated

Frankincense Basil

Benzoin Vetiver

Calamus Jamarosa

Van Tulsa Eucalyptus Globulus

Lac (Aluretic Acid) Patchouli

Frankincense Tree Patchouli as Intercrop with Banana

Vetiver Basil as Intercrop with Jamarosa