Rage for patchouli cultivation in South Gujarat

Cultivation of the patchouli plant, used as an essential ingredient and a base material in the perfume industry, is seeing unprecedented popularity in South Gujarat.

Patchouli plant cultivation got a major boost with the state government giving five per cent subsidy and the central government adding another 25 per cent to farmers.

"The patchouli plant cultivation business is expected to increase at the rate of more than 90 per cent. Around 1,000 acres of the South Gujarat district comes under patchouli cultivation. Vapi, Daman and Silvassa have the best climates for its cultivation,'' said Kaimash Desai, director of Panil Farm Products Pvt Ltd.

At present there are four-five patchouli distillery plants in the region. Reliance set up a distillery plant in Saurashtra last year and many big corporates are in the fray to enter the business, he said.

The current price is about $19.50 per kg and fluctuates within $30 per kg. "The cost of patchouli oil is around Rs 1,000 to 2,000 per kg varying with the demand and production. More than 50 tonne of patchouli oil is distilised per annum in Valsad, according to industry sources.

In India, due to increase in chewing tobacco and pan masala industries and attar industries, consumption of this oil has gone up to about 200 to 250 tonne per annum.

However, unofficial estimates indicate that domestic requirement would be as high as 300 tonne of oil in the coming years. Mostly contract farming is adopted for its cultivation and the government is considering initiatives to ensure an organised market.

"After doing three years of Research and Development, our group has started cultivation of patchouli in 50 acres of land since last one year and with production of 10 to 12 metric tonne per annum,'' said Assistant manager Dr Abhay Thosar of Atul group, Valsad, one of the new entrants in the industry.