Sabujayan gaining popularity in Bengal

Kolkata: Sabujayan, one of the favourite projects of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which proposes planting of Vetiver grass to prevent soil erosion, is becoming popular throughout the state.

In addition to preventing soil erosion, the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) department is trying to make the aroma industry popular through Vetiver and related aromatic grass like citronella and lemon cultivation at Baruipur, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia.

The MSME department is installing aroma extraction units in these areas in Bengal, to get the best possible benefits from the waste fallow land available in the area. The department is targeting 500 acres of Vetiver and related aroma grass cultivation in West Bengal, through establishment of distillation units.

Uttar Pradesh was the largest producer of Vetiver oil in the country and FFDC, Kannauj is the nodal agency to spread the technology throughout the country.

Tamil Nadu is now becoming one of the largest producers of Vetiver oil, through industrial patronage by C K Ashok Kumar of Cavin Care group, Raksha Biotech Pvt Ltd of Mumbai and Marudhamalai Traders.

Many agriculture and engineering graduates are now engaged in this industry in Tamil Nadu. Prasanna Kumar, one such civil engineer, is now organising Vetiver cultivation at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu.

C K Ashok Kumar said, "1,000 acres of area is now covered with Vetiver in Cuddalore district and we are targeting 5,000 acres of Vetiver cultivation within one year as it is one of the most profit making cultivations in wastelands. Farmers are getting Rs 40,000 to 50,000 from one kilogram of Vetiver oil."

In Nadia district, steps have been taken to prevent soil erosion along the banks of six rivers that flow through the district.

Of the 743 km of embankment, Vetiver has been planted in areas covering around 300 km. The grass is produced in over 70 nurseries.

Taking cue from the success in Nadia, Vetiver plantation

has begun in East Midna-

pore and Howrah districts to prevent erosion of the embankments.