Citronella Cultivation In Assam: Problems and Prospects

Citronella holds a prominent place in essential oil industries. This is extensively used in scenting of soaps, mosquito repellent creams, sprays disinfectants, polishes, etc. Because of its healthy net return and high market demand, the crop may score better than crops like pepper, rubber, coffee, sugarcane, etc., in the hilly areas of Assam. Study on the economic aspect of the crop, specifically when it involves different categories of citronella farmers, always deserves a special importance. The present study, based on the primary data collected from 120 sample farmers with citronella cultivation, attempts to identify different problems related to the cultivation of citronella in Tinsukia district of Assam. Citronella growers, being Involved in a new venture, suffer from a number of problems such as lack of planting material, problem of drainage, problem of price fluctuation, problem of poor price fixation, lack of infrastructure facilities, lack of knowledge about modern cultivation techniques, non-availability of labor, problem of diseases, problem of dry leaf formation, etc. As marketing provides a link between the producer and the buyer, there is a need to establish a sound marketing system. Besides, the crop should be included in the minimum support price policy of the government. Since small growers constitute the backbone of the industry in the state, this sector should receive priority consideration for financial assistance. To boost up future production of citronella, we must have a better co-ordination among farmers, researchers, marketing agencies and the government.