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Patchouli
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An option beside the traditional crops
The NE region is bestowed with diverse agro-climatic zones, which makes itself a rich storehouse of different types of Flora and Fauna. Besides, this conditions help in introduction, acclimatization, and cultivation of a number of aromatic plants with minimum efforts. There are a few commercial crops, which can be cultivated without
disturbing the existing flora and have the potential to establish as cash crops in this region.
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) has been identified as one such essential oil bearing aromatic plant with immense export potential. Patchouli oil production could be a rural based, labour intensive, low cost agro-base cottage industry, which will give large-scale employment in rural and hilly areas. Patchouli, being a shade loving plant
can easily be grown as an intercrop amidst fruit trees, arecanut, and coconut plantation etc. It can also be easily cultivated in flood free fallow or wastelands. This will provide some extra income for the farmers. Following figures clearly indicates that Patchouli cultivation can be a good option besides the traditional crops.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
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Name of the crop |
Patchouli |
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Economic part used |
Leaves |
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End product |
Aromatic essential oil |
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Uses |
Perfumeries,Cosmetics, Toiletries etc. |
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Type and nature of the plant |
Perennial bushy shrub, partially shade loving |
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Soil |
Well-drained deep loam to sandy loam soil, slightly acidic in reaction, with no water stagnation |
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Climate |
Warm and humid climate, up to 1000 m altitude with well distributed moderate rainfall |
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Propagation |
By stem cutting |
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Planting time with irrigation |
April- September |
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Planting time – rainfed |
June- September |
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Rotation period |
Three years |
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Number of harvests |
Average three harvests per year for 3 years |
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Drying & curing of the leaves |
: Shade drying and stored in well packed gunny bags for at least 3 months before distillation |
ECONOMICS:
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Requirement of planting material |
12000-15000 per acre or 4000-5000 per bigha |
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Spacing |
2’ x 2’ or 2’ x 1.5’ depending on soil fertility |
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YIELD |
Green leaves, 55 to 66 q/ac/year |
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Dry leaves |
10-12 q/ac/year |
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Oil yield-recovery @ 3.75 kg /q of dry leaves |
37.5 to 45 kg per acre/year |
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COST OF PRODUCTION |
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Green leaves |
Rs. 2.00/kg approx. |
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Dry leaves |
Rs.12.50/kg |
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Oil production |
Rs 450.00/kg |
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SELLING PRICE |
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Dry leaves |
Rs. 22.00/kg |
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Oil |
Rs. 800.00/kg |
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NET INCOME |
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From dry leaves |
Rs. 9.50/kg |
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From oil |
350.00/kg |
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EMPLOYMENT GENERATION |
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Upto dry leaf production |
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Direct |
1 (Owner himself) |
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Indirect |
126 man days |
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Distillation |
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Supervisor |
1 No. |
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Skilled labour |
2 No. |
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Unskilled labour |
2 No. |
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ANNUAL INCOME GENERATION |
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Average income from dry leaf production |
Per acre per year |
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Per bigha per year |
Rs. 4241.00 |
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Average income from Oil production |
Rs. 16256.00 |
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ECONOMICS UPTO PRODUCTION OF DRY LEAVES |
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Area |
10 acres or 30 bigha |
Production from 10 acres of land can support 2 -distillation units of 1 q capacity (60 kg dry herb/batch) at a time. Running of two units of smaller size will be more economical compared to large size one in respect of labour utilization and distillation efficiency.
Planting material alone accounts for about 50 % of the total cost of cultivation. Therefore, a farmer should raise his own nursery and for this should establish nursery atleast 6 months ahead of planting and go for multiplication.
Area =10 acres (in Rs.)
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Particulars |
1st year |
2nd year |
3rd year |
Average |
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Cost of cultivation upto dry leaf production |
1,58,550 |
70,880 |
70,880 |
1,00,103 |
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Gross return from dry leaves @ Rs. 2200/q |
2,20,000 (100 q) |
2,64,000 (120 q) |
1,98,000 (90 q) |
2,27,333 (103 q) |
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Net income from dry leaf production |
61,450 |
1,93,120 |
1,27,120 |
1,27,230 |
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Per month income from 10 acres of land |
5,120 |
16093 |
10593 |
10603 |
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Per acre return |
6,1145 |
19,312 |
12,712 |
12,723 |
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Employment generation (Indirect or hired labours in terms of mandays) |
1,255 |
1,285 |
1,285 |
1,275 |
2. ECONOMICS OF OIL PRODUCTION
No. of distillation unit= 2 Nos.
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Particulars |
1st year |
2nd year |
3rd year |
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Total No. of batches @ 60 kg dry leaf /batch |
166 |
200 |
150 |
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Cost of distillation @ Rs. 110/kg oil |
44,000 |
52,800 |
39,600 |
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Cost of container |
2000 |
2200 |
1800 |
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Total cost of cultivation |
1,58,550 |
70,880 |
70,880 |
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Total cost of production |
2,04,550 |
1,25,880 |
1,12,280 |
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Oil yield (Kg) |
375 |
450 |
338 |
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Gross return @ Rs. 800/kg oil |
3,00,000 |
3,60,000 |
2,70,400 |
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Net return |
95,450 |
2,34,120 |
1,58,120 |
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Net return from oil selling over dry leaf selling |
34,000 |
41,110 |
31,000 |
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Net return per month |
7,954 |
19,510 |
13,177 |
NEDFi’s helping hand
Realising the potential of medicinal and aromatic plants in the region and visualizing the challenges ahead NEDFi the premier Financial and Development Institute of NE region has taken up initiative in the production of Patchouli oil on commercial basis under a buy back guarantee to begin with. Besides, ensuring the market of patchouli oil, it
also provides full technical and financial support to the farmers/processors. With the objective of providing technical support to the farmers, NEDFi has recently established the R&D center for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants located at Khetri, P.O. Khetri, Kamrup, Assam Ph: (0361) 2787411, 2787412.
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