Regional potpourri
Farmer looks for rose oil buyers
by Rajay Deep
Jagdev Singh of Kalalwala village, who chose growing other than traditional crops, has been facing the problem of marketing his produce.
Jagdev went for organic farming in six acres and planted rare variety of rose — Damask. Being highly perishable, the flower can be used for extracting ark (distilled water) or rose oil only. He had planted 21 quintals of rose buds in 2001.
He was getting good yield of flowers, 15 quintals from an acre, but could extract only a litre of oil from entire produce. The state government’s apathy in respect of marketing the produce has distressed him.
Claiming the oil to be very expensive, he said, “There is no fixed international price for it. But customers abroad, tell THAT its price ranges between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 18 lakh a litre.”
Jagdev said, “The soil and climate here are suitable for this crop and it does not need intensive care. But in the absence of marketing, it is good for nothing.”
He said, “We have set up oil extracting unit but marketing is the main problem. Till now, we could sell only four bottles to an NRI from Canada at the rate of Rs 5 lakh a litre a couple of years back. We still have five bottles and are looking for buyers.”
“We have been trying to sell it via the Internet but people hardly show interest. Even if someone is ready to buy the oil, he offers very low price,” he added.
There are only few farmers having this variety of rose in the state. Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh is the hub of this trade.
“Except motivating us for taking up crop diversification, no department of the state government has come forward to lend a helping hand,” he said, adding if the situation did not change he would be forced to uproot the whole crop.
Farmer looks for rose oil buyers
by Rajay Deep
 Jagdev Singh tends his rose farm. |
Jagdev went for organic farming in six acres and planted rare variety of rose — Damask. Being highly perishable, the flower can be used for extracting ark (distilled water) or rose oil only. He had planted 21 quintals of rose buds in 2001.
He was getting good yield of flowers, 15 quintals from an acre, but could extract only a litre of oil from entire produce. The state government’s apathy in respect of marketing the produce has distressed him.
Claiming the oil to be very expensive, he said, “There is no fixed international price for it. But customers abroad, tell THAT its price ranges between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 18 lakh a litre.”
Jagdev said, “The soil and climate here are suitable for this crop and it does not need intensive care. But in the absence of marketing, it is good for nothing.”
He said, “We have set up oil extracting unit but marketing is the main problem. Till now, we could sell only four bottles to an NRI from Canada at the rate of Rs 5 lakh a litre a couple of years back. We still have five bottles and are looking for buyers.”
“We have been trying to sell it via the Internet but people hardly show interest. Even if someone is ready to buy the oil, he offers very low price,” he added.
There are only few farmers having this variety of rose in the state. Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh is the hub of this trade.
“Except motivating us for taking up crop diversification, no department of the state government has come forward to lend a helping hand,” he said, adding if the situation did not change he would be forced to uproot the whole crop.
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