Houna gives hope to 150 orphans
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 01 2012:
Plantation of Lemon Grass (local name: Houna; scientific name: Cymbopogon Flexuosus) has become a successful trade for 150 orphans in Churachandpur district who are now depending on it for their livelihood, Dr R Sanga, a farmer from Singhat, CCpur has informed.
Talking to mediapersons on the sideline of distributing Jor-Lab-C2, a high yielding Citronella plant by CSIR-NEIST to Lemon Grass farmers at its Sub Station at Lamphelpat, Dr Sanga said that Angels' Place, an orphan home, which was established at Bungmual in CCpur in 2005 has presently 150 orphans including 48 girls and 102 boys.
In order to ensure livelihood to these orphans, the Home began plantation of Jatropha (Awa Kege) at first.
But due to lack of profit in Jatropha cultivation, the Home switched over to plantation of Lemon Grass in 2008 and began production in 2009.In that year itself, the Home also got a Oil production machine from North East Institute of Science and Technology which is under the Central Scientific Industrial Research, and since then the Home also began production of Lemon Grass oil.
At present the Home produces not just Lemon Grass Oil, but also a type of Phenyl from Lemon Grass and could earn Rs 12.5 lakh per annum by producing 2500 kg of Lemon Grass oil alone.
Taking into consideration of increasing demand for Lemon Grass Oil, the Home is targeting to produce 3000 kg of oil next year, Dr Sanga disclosed.
He further said that plantation of Lemon Grass is an easy task for farmers since it is like by animals, birds and insects.
Nonetheless, the soil of Manipur is very suitable for plantation of Lemon Grass.
MLA L Nandakumar, Principal Scientist of CSIR-NEIST Dr H Birkumar and Agriculture Director L Palindro graced the function as Chief Guest, President and Guest of Honour respectively.