Geranium farming to keep wild animals away

Jotirmay Thapliyal

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Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 24

In view of wild animals venturing into their fields, cultivation of aromatic plants such as geranium could be an alternative for farmers in Uttarakhand.

The state’s climatic conditions have always favoured cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. But farmers in the state have so far limited themselves to traditional agriculture. The times are changing, particularly with traditional agriculture not being profitable for farmers anymore owing to high input costs and low returns. Problems of farmers have been compounded with water availability decreasing.

And wild animals tend to venture into the fields. Thus, the cultivation of geranium, a flower, the oil of which is used in preparation of cosmetics and perfumery, could be an answer.

Rose-scented geranium oil is obtained by steam distillation of the tender parts of plants of geranium, which contain geraniol, citronellol and rhodinol, which form important constituents of cosmetics and perfumery. Thus, the demand for geranium oil is increasing at an unprecedented rate and is not met by the present supply.

Geranium requires little water. As per estimate, geranium crop growing on a bigha, on crushing, would provide 1 kilolitre of geranium oil, which costs around Rs 10,000 in the market. Geranium has five to six months’ crop period. And wild animals do not venture into fields where geranium is grown.

“The farmers are excited and are looking forward to be involved in farming of aromatic plants such as geranium rather than continuing with the traditional and not so profitable farming,” said Dr Kamal Bahuguna from the Himalayan Institute for Environment Ecology and Development (HIFEED). The HIFEED, an NGO, has been at forefront in promoting farming of aromatics in hill villages of Tehri.

“Growing geranium plants along with other vegetables — Mixed cropping system, is going to provide more benefits and easy returns,” said Bahuguna.

Countries such as China and Egypt have been growing geranium for several years now and using it in their aromatic industry. The cultivation of geranium can thus prove to be a boon to the economy of the hill areas.