Engineer couple quits L&T Infotech for lemongrass farming; clocks Rs30 lakh annual turnover

Gauri and Dilip Parab were doing well professionally while working with L&T Infotech as software engineers in Mumbai. Their jobs were well-paying, but deep down, there was a desire to return home to Konkan in Maharashtra.

With its beautiful coastline, untouched beaches, and a rich agricultural landscape, Konkan has a vibrant cultural heritage. “Something was always calling us home — to the land, the soil, and our roots. So we quit our jobs and returned to Konkan,” Gauri tells 30Stades.

In 2021, the duo decided to combine lemongrass farming with value addition to create organic products and generate local employment. 

Gauri and Dilip purchased six acres of land in Tithavli village in the Vaibhavwadi Taluka of Sindhudurg District. “Before 2021, this was forest land, and we had to start from scratch. We began with one acre and expanded to eight acres in phases,” she says.

Why lemongrass farming is profitable

The duo studied the local landscape and zeroed in on lemongrass farming as the climate is suitable for the crop. Lemongrass is also used in multiple sectors after processing. “Konkan faces extreme weather in summer, winter and monsoon. Lemongrass is a sturdy crop that sustains in all three seasons and gives yield throughout the year,” says Dilip, who looks after farming operations.

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Lemongrass farming is profitable as the herb is used in various industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages, creating a rising demand. 

As per the CSIR-CIMAP (Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants), the global market of lemongrass was 38.02 million dollars in 2020 and is expected to more than double to 81.43 million dollars by 2028.

India is a major player in the lemongrass oil market, exporting it to over 80 countries. The major destinations are North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific.

“Lemongrass can be harvested three to four times a year, maximising yield and creating income opportunities throughout the year,” explains Dilip. Lemongrass is among the most-used medicinal plants in India. 

From organic farming to processing

The couple began with lemongrass farming on one acre. “We purchased saplings of the Krishna variety at Rs 2.5 per piece from a nursery in Hyderabad. In one acre, we planted 25,000 saplings with a row-to-row gap of one foot and a plant-to-plant gap of 1.5 feet and then expanded in phases," he says.

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Today, they grow organic lemongrass on eight acres, of which six acres are owned and the rest is leased land. 

“We put vermicompost, cow dung and lemon grass bio waste after oil extraction into the soil. Lemongrass continues to grow as you don’t have to cut the roots while harvesting,” Dilip says.

“The first harvest is ready in four months. Then, you can harvest every 80 to 90 days, leading to four harvests per year,” he adds.

The couple set up a small unit based on the traditional method of distillation for lemongrass oil extraction. During distillation, steam is passed through harvested lemongrass, causing the essential oil glands to rupture and release their aromatic compounds. The steam, carrying these compounds, is then condensed back into a liquid, where the oil and water separate into distinct layers. The essential oil can then be easily collected.

They also hired local women to make handcrafted soaps and prepare herbal floor cleaner from lemongrass. 

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“Apart from our factory outlet, the floor cleaner is available on Amazon, and soaps will also be available soon. We sell lemongrass oil in retail and bulk to pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies. The rates fluctuate depending on market demand from Rs850 to Rs 1500 per litre. The average is 1200 per litre,” Gauri says.

The annual turnover was Rs30 lakh last year.

Lemongrass oil

“From 1 tonne of lemongrass, one can get 7 to 8 litres of aromatic oil. While the oil output from 1 tonne of lemongrass can hit 10 litres in summer, it is reduced to just 2.5 litres in the rains and 5 to 6 litres in winter, averaging 7 litres,” she says.

One acre will yield around 18 tonnes of lemongrass, resulting in 126 litres of oil (18 × 7 litres) in the Konkan region. “The output can differ across geographies,” the agripreneur adds.

However, the couple has not restricted themselves to just oil. This oil is blended with coconut oil and set into wooden moulds, resulting in lemongrass soap bars. Each bar is then cured, hand-cut, and packaged by local women.

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“Our products are 100 percent natural and handmade in small batches to maintain quality. We use plastic-free sustainable packaging,” Gauri says.

“To meet the rising demand, we have tied up with three farmers in our village. We take the raw materials from them and pay them at market rates,” says Dilip.

(Riya Singh is a Ranchi-based journalist who writes on environment, farming, sustainability, startups, & women empowerment)

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