Patna: The Gaya District Administration in Bihar has devised a novel way to counter Opium cultivation that has become bane for interior areas. Under the guidance of District Magistrate Thiyagarajan SM, the administration is promoting cultivation of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in a big way.

This switch over is breaking the supply chain of drug racketeers and also giving farmers handsome returns through alternate cropping. Barachatti and Banke Bazar are Naxal-infested areas and the tacit cultivation of Opium has been prevalent in these areas for a long
time.

The DM said that lemongrass farming was introduced in the Barachatti block as an alternative to opium cultivation. Similarly, it was promoted in the Banke Bazar block to give additional sources of income to farmers.

The results have been encouraging. The farmers now are getting more income than Opium cultivation in Jaigir panchayat of Barachatti. Owing to good profit, the Opium farming has totally stopped in Jaigir panchayat, the DM said.

Oil is extracted from lemongrass, which has several medicinal properties as it is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. Several cosmetics like cosmetic soaps, talcum powder and creams as well as disinfectants and toilet cleaners are made from the oil of lemongrass.

Lemongrass cultivation is creating a sustainable model for farming as well as sending positive vibes in villages, where farmers used to surreptitiously indulge in opium farming.

Citing another example, Thiyagarajan said at Bela village under Banke Bazar block, lemongrass cultivation is being done on barren and defunct land, similarly at Belauti village under Gurua block farmers have planted lemongrass on 20 acres of land.

Disclosing the further plans, he said across the district there is 3,237 hectares of cultivable barren land and the target is to promote lemongrass cultivation on such lands.

The district administration will further train women of Banke Bazar through the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) for setting up cottage industries for production of disinfectant, cosmetic soap and allied products from lemongrass oil. /BI/