Cultivating Aroma: Growing Aromatic Crops for India's Sustainable Agro-Economic Development
An important update on an interesting policy!
Background
The Aroma Mission is a remarkable and revolutionary scheme initiated by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for the welfare of agricultural producers and the development of the agricultural sector. The primary aim of the scheme is to promote the growing of aromatic crops and increase the extent of their cultivation area by 30,000 hectares. (aromamission, n.d.)
Introduced in 2016 and popularly known as the Purple Revolution, the scheme's mission is to help farmers keep a hold on their produce and continue cultivating aromatic crops, which are in high demand in the market (including the global market). This mission also accelerates the expansion of India's agricultural landscape by allowing creative sector-specific interventions, promising the farmers a stable source of income. First-time cultivators were given free samplings to encourage them to actively take part in cultivating crops like lavender, aloe vera, mint, hina or henna trees, and the like. Additionally, the scheme facilitated subsidized purchases of crops for farmers predominantly cultivating these aromatic crops.
Outlook of Aromatic Crops in India
The essential oil market in India has expanded significantly in recent years, and in 2022, it was worth US$159.7 million. According to IMARC Group, the market is anticipated to reach US$ 247.1 Million by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.74% from 2023 to 2028 (India Essential Oil Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028, 2023). This upward trend is anticipated to continue. The expanding pro-consumer movement, which has raised the demand for essential oils and herbal medicines in both local and international markets, is one of the major forces driving this expansion. The demand for natural and organic goods like essential oils has expanded as people become more concerned with their health and well-being. Farmers, especially those new to farming aromatic crops, have a great chance to benefit from this trend by taking advantage of the consistent demand and rising prices. By leveraging this scheme, farmers ( and seasonal laborers) can explore an additional source of income.
Evaluating Policy Implementation: Functioning, Performance, Challenges, and Concerns
Functioning:
In order to meet the increased demand from the aroma sector, the mission intends to assist in developing aromatic crops that produce essential oils. Its goal is to emulate the success of menthol mint and make India a leader in manufacturing and exporting diverse essential oils. Farmers can anticipate major benefits from this scheme, including increased income, utilizing formerly underutilized fields, and protection of crops from grazing animals and wildlife.
CSIR will step in and cultivate an additional 5,500 hectares of land to help the production of aromatic crops. Approximately 60,000 hectares will be used to cultivate aromatic crops as a result of this initiative.
The mission projects an increase in essential oil output of 700 tonnes per year, serving the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and fragrance industries. Additionally, using these oils in herbal formulations and value-added goods is anticipated to create at least 200 crores in revenue. Overall, the institute projects that the scheme will increase the supply of long-lasting, superior-quality of raw materials for the expanding herbal industry, which is predominantly propelled by essential oils.
Furthermore, farmers' incomes are predicted to improve dramatically due to the cultivation of aromatic crops, by an estimated Rs. 30,000 to 60,000 per hectare per year. The development of about 45,000 talented people who can reproduce top-notch planting material, carry out distillation and fractionation procedures, and add value to the products will also be a vital component of this project. Over 25,000 farming households would directly benefit from this mission, and it is anticipated that rural areas will see the development of 10-15 lakh person-days of employment.
Farmers in areas like Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and other states that frequently face extreme weather events will specifically benefit from the scientific interventions carried out through this scheme. With the help of these measures, difficulties like weather-related hazards and the high rate of farmer suicides will be lessened for farmers in these vulnerable locations.
Performance:
Broadly, the mission has has increased farmers' incomes, created jobs, and boosted the economy. In states like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, the mission has been successful in creating a better future for their families.
a) Jammu and Kashmir: the Aroma Mission has helped to envision a "purple revolution" by promoting the cultivation of lavender. Lavender is a high-value crop that can be grown in the arid climate of Jammu and Kashmir. The Mission has helped to provide farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to grow lavender successfully.
b) Uttar Pradesh: the Aroma Mission has helped to promote and boost the cultivation of lemongrass. It provide farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to grow lemongrass successfully.
c) Himachal Pradesh: the Aroma Mission has helped to promote the cultivation of wild marigold.
Overall, The scheme has created jobs in the cultivation, processing, and value addition of aromatic crops. In 2022, the Aroma Mission directly employed over 25,000 people and indirectly generated employment for over 10-15 lakhs mandays.
Challenges:
Despite being successful, there have been some challenges faced during its implementation. First is the lack of awareness. Many farmers were not aware of the benefits of growing aromatic crops, or of the government's support for the Aroma Mission. This has made it difficult to get farmers to participate in the program.
Secondly, . Some aromatic crops require a specific climate to grow well. For example, lavender cannot be grown in areas with high humidity. This has limited the number of areas where the Aroma Mission can be implemented.
And lastly, there was a lack of infrastructure for the processing and marketing of aromatic crops. This can make it difficult for farmers to sell their produce at a good price.
References
(n.d.). Retrieved from aromamission: https://aromamission.cimap.res.in/aromamission/
Cardoz, P. T. (2023, January 31). India’s Purple Revolution Blossoming in Jammu & Kashmir. InvestIndia.
(2023). India Essential Oil Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028. Market Research Report | IMARC Group.
very good ... topic is interesting and all the farmers besides their regular crops ,these aromatic crops are to be encouraged to cultivate and supported by sbusidies... a fine way of presentaion.