Agriculture in Karnataka is heavily dependent on the southwest monsoon, while only 26.5 per cent of the cultivated area is under irrigation. In 2017, three awareness programmes for the farmers of Uttara Kannada district were organized in which 80 farmers participated. Farmers were made aware about lemongrass and palmarosa crops which could be successfully cultivated under rain-fed conditions. About 100 kg of palmarosa seeds were distributed to the farmers. Presently, these crops cover an area of around 12 hectares. Initiatives were also taken to introduce lemongrass and vetiver in the drought-prone areas of Mysuru and Hassan districts.