Imphal, April 15: Ajmal Group of Companies, which is well known in the field of manufacturing and marketing of perfume not only in India but also in Gulf countries, has expressed interest in buying the extracts of the aromatic plants growing abundantly wild in Manipur.

The manager of the Research ad Development Centre of the MNC originally based in Nagaon district of Assam in North East India and the Manager farming of the company are currently at Imphal in this connection.

Set in up 1951 as a perfume manufacturing unit, the Ajmal Group of Companies has shown keen interest in buying the oil extracts mainly from Patchouli (scientific name-Bosdemon Togosdemon Cadlin, Local name-Sambrei) and Lemon Grass ((Scientific name Gymeogogan Flexuoxux, Local name Houna) growing in Manipur.

The MNC is targeting to purchase 36,000 kgs of oil extracts of these two aromatic plants from Manipur in a year.

In the meantime, the Ajmal Group of Companies in association with Keisham Associates Pvt Limited yesterday conducted an awareness programme on the cultivation and potential of these two aromatic plants here.

According to Managing Director of Keisham Associates Ragesh Keisham, his firm would be making all out efforts towards encouraging the farmers of Manipur to cultivate these two aromatic plants in different parts of the State widely.

The efforts would cover methodology and technique of cultivation, harvesting and marketing of the products, he said.

He also assured the farmers with every possible assistance from the side of his firm as well as from Ajmal Group of Companies in cultivation of the aromatic plants which can be taken up without much labour and capital so as to improve the economic status of the farmers.

It is said that in current market, oil extracts of Patchouli (Sambrei) cost around Rs 3,700 to 4000 per kg and that of Lemon Grass (Houna) is Rs 425 per kg.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting and discussion session on cultivation of these two aromatic plants was facilitated at lounge of State Guest House, Sanjenthong here yesterday.

The discussion session was attended by representatives of Ajmal Group of Company, aromatic plant growers of the State, officials of the State Agriculture Department and progressive farmers/growers.

The discussion session dealt at length on cultivation of these two aromatic plants and its potential and to what extent the farmers can reap the benefit.

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