The Kutch region of Gujarat witnesses low agricultural productivity due to relatively high salinity of water, and hence, traditional agriculture is not a profitable option in this region. A couple of years back, salt-tolerant crops like palmarosa and rosagrass were introduced in Kutch which yielded good quality oil to attract attention of farmers. Under the mission, salt- and drought-tolerant crops were promoted, and at present, a total of 137 hectares is under cultivation of aromatic crops. The farmers of this region have been richly benefitted by earning a net profit of about Rs. 1 lakh annually. With the increased popularity of palmarosa, Kutch may soon become a hub for the production of palmarosa oil. In 2017, three awareness programs were conducted near Vadodara, and some high-value crops like vetiver and geranium were also introduced in tobacco-growing areas. It is hoped that these aromatic crops would become an attractive option to replace tobacco in the coming years.
Manpower Trained : 215 (3 programs)