https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Lemon Grass Is The New Opium For Farmers

Lemongrass is being cultivated instead of Opium in many areas of Gaya, farmers are earning profits 2011-batch IAS officer Thiyagarajan SMpersuadedthe farmers to opt for lemongrass farming . Lemongrass is being cultivated on 200 acres of land. Over 300 acres more is in planning phase.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Bihar’s Gaya district were notorious for Naxalite activities. Opium was also being cultivated on the barren land here. But 2011-batch IAS officer Mr. Thiyagarajan SM agreed taking over as Gaya’s DM cajoled farmers to give up Opium cultivating and instead grow Lemongrass.

The farmers are earning up to Rs.1.5 lakh per acre annually. Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Thiyagarajan SM said, “In Naxal affected blocks in Gaya district, opium was cultivated on more than 600 acres of barren land where no other crops could be grown. That’s why we promoted Lemon grass cultivation, because it requires very less water. This we generated good income with less resources.”

IAS officer Thiyagarajan SM

LEMON GRASS FARMING

Horticulture Center, the nodal agency is not only given training but is also providing Lemongrass seeds free of cost.

Right now Lemongrass is being cultivated on 220 acres of land. Mr. Thiyagarajan said, “Lemongrass oil extraction is also being done at a local distillation plant. Now we are planning to cultivate it on 500 acres.”

LEMON GRASS OIL PLANT

Plants are being set up on a small scale to extract lemongrass oil. A small plant worth 10 lakh rupees is being set up on for every 5 acres land of Lemongrass cultivation. Farmers groups are being formed fire this. If 10 farmers are cultivating 5 acres of lemon grass together, they can collectively starts a plant worth 10 lakhs. For this, administration also provides them help in getting loans.

CM Nitish Kumar inspecting lemon grass products in Gaya at a exhibition

BENEFITS & FUTURE

Lemongrass has medicinal properties. It is also used in many products like Phenyl, Sanitizer and Vitamin A. Lemongrass is full of antioxidants.

Stressing upon benefits of lemon grass, Mr. Thiyagarajan said, “The tea made from it and the vitamin A extracted from it is beneficial for health. Spraying just a few drops of lemongrass oil in water can ward off insects and mosquitoes. That’s why we are planning to start small scale industries to make products from lemongrass. Work has already started for this.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
MCL Town Hall project Patnagarh
MCL Allocates Rs 9.97 Crore for Town Hall Project in Patnagarh, Strengthening Community Infrastructure in Odisha
SAIL
SAIL Reports 53% Decline in Q2 FY26 Profit to Rs 418 Crore, Revenue Surges Amid Strong Sales Volume
Railtel
RailTel Achieves 27% Growth in Q2 FY26, Reports Rs 966 Crore Income and Announces Interim Dividend
NMDC Steel Ltd
NMDC Achieves Record-Breaking Q2 FY26 with 23% Growth in Production and 33% Increase in PAT
HPCL_logo_HIndustan Petroleum
Results: HPCL Reports 731% Surge in H1 FY26 Profit, Driven by Strong Refining & Marketing Performance
BHEL
BHEL Reports 3x Surge in Q2 Net Profit to Rs 374.89 Crore, Driven by Strong Revenue Growth of Rs 7,686.41 Crore
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar bribery case
Bribery to Benami Assets: CBI Registers Disproportionate Assets Case Against IPS Harcharan Singh Bhullar; Massive Cash, Gold, & Property Recovered
President Droupadi Murmu Rafale flight
Historic First: At 67, President Droupadi Murmu Becomes First Indian President to Fly in Rafale Fighter Jet, Calls It an ‘Unforgettable Experience’
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Gokul S
Meet IAS Gokul S — The Officer Who Turned Disability into Determination | Video Interview 
Visually impaired IAS officer Gokul S turned his challenges into change, empowering hundreds through...
Parmeshwar Chaudhary RAS
From Taunts to Triumph: How Farmer’s Son Parmeshwar Chaudhary Rose from Lab Assistant to SDM, Securing Rank 3 in RAS 2023
Parmeshwar, once taunted over his SI selection, has scripted a stunning success—securing Rank 3 in RAS...
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Social Media
Tenzin Yangki IPS Arunachal
Historic First: Who Is Tenzin Yangki, Arunachal Pradesh’s First Woman to Join IPS? Anand Mahindra Hails Her
She secured an impressive 545th rank in the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination - 2022.
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
MCL Town Hall project Patnagarh
MCL Allocates Rs 9.97 Crore for Town Hall Project in Patnagarh, Strengthening Community Infrastructure in Odisha
SAIL
SAIL Reports 53% Decline in Q2 FY26 Profit to Rs 418 Crore, Revenue Surges Amid Strong Sales Volume
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Gokul S
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT