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Planting
Pointers:
-
Tissue culture plants are recommended for further propagation
- First harvest after three months if tissue culture plants
are used
- Anti-nematode material like neem-cake a must when planting
-
Transplantation in any month except April, May, October
- Drip irrigation yields double to triple those by conventional
methods.
- Best quality oil is obtained by harvesting in the wet season.
- Only top leaves to be cut, or new shoots will be affected.
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The
focus of the workshop was on one promising aromatic plant–Patchouli.
This is native to Indonesia, which supplies most of the world’s
requirement of around 1500 tons per year. Patchouli oil is a key
constituent in exotic perfumes to which it gives a rich, spicy fragrance,
although it can also be used as a perfume in its own right. It has
also good fixative properties, especially in soap perfumes. Around
150 tons of patchouli oil is imported into India annually. However,
this picture could change dramatically, if the association has its
way.
According
to the general secretary of the EOAI, Kedar Vaze, India could be
a key player in the production of this valuable aromatic oil. Both
soil and climatic conditions along the entire west coast of the
country are ideally suited to patchouli cultivation, with plentiful
rain, good drainage and temperatures of 20 to 35 degrees Celsius.
Water logging poses a threat to the plants, especially as it is
susceptible to nematodes. Other than that, the plant is a sturdy
perennial, requiring only farmyard manure and an organic pesticide,
like neem-cake. An added bonus is that it isn’t attractive to either
cattle or thieves!
Patchouli
yields the first harvest within six months and every three months
thereafter, for an optimum period of three years. After that, crop
rotation is recommended before replanting Patchouli. Inter-cropping
of Patchouli with coconuts or bananas is also viable.
Detailed
technical protocols on the cultivation and processing of this crop
have been prepared by Keva Biotech, a subsidiary of S.H. Kelkar
& Co., which has done major research on vetiver, aquilaria, chrysanthemum,
geranium, kokum, besides patchouli. In fact, the Kelkars have successfully
introduced the Reunion variety of geranium into India.
The Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants is cultivating
this as the Kelkar variety. Besides this, the Egyptian variety of
geranium has been supplied to farmers in Andhra Pradesh, and yields
of up to 185 litres per hectare have been demonstrated. Having begun
a campaign to popularise the cultivation of Patchouli three years
ago, the company has had substantial success with the farming community
in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. More than 300 acres
are already under Patchouli and the target is 1000 acres by the
end of the year. In fact, Vaze looks forward to the time when perhaps
10,000 acres under Patchouli could supply the world’s needs!
The
native Indian variety of Patchouli, also called “Paachi” or “Panadi”,
is not suitable for oil. Hence, the company has selected an indigenous
variety from which the essential oil may be produced. This is not
a genetically modified material. The herb is a non-flowering variety,
propagated only through nursery cuttings. The company supplies rooted
cuttings at its Mulund factory, along with an agronomy package and
technical support from its experts, who will pay site visits. Most
importantly, the company offers a 100 per cent buy back arrangement,
at a fixed rate of Rs.20 per kilogram, of dried material, for the
next three years. At present, collection is done only at its Mulund
premises, but this is open to change in case of large-scale cultivation
in any specific area.
Vaze’s optimism is tempered by a healthy caution. He says: “This
can be a very profitable crop, but it’s not meant for hobby farmers-it
needs careful monitoring and hard work”
The
author is a freelance writer
