Kunti: Chada Pahan and Sanika Pahan of Kozong village of Murhu block were making huge profits in lemongrass cultivation. But now, after the onset of COVID-19, the brothers found a lucrative opportunity to make hand sanitizers amid the lockdown.
The brothers were producing lemongrass and extracting its oil, which is an aromatic medicinal herb known for its aroma and resembling that of lemons and they were earning three lakh rupees per year.
"We learned to extract oil from lemongrass after we went to Anugrah. We saw the process and then we tried extricating oil from lemongrass which worked out. We had to put in efforts but we were able to extract oil and water in the same vessel," Chada told ETV Bharat.
He went on to add, "People in the nearby districts make alcohol in the same manner. This is an easy process and we will continue this job.
Using this technique, around 500ml of oil is extracted from 20 plants. This attempt by the duo has been appreciated by the locals and people from the nearby areas are coming to see their work.
Asked about where he will sell the sanitizer, he said, "We are yet to decide on this. We will inform this to Jharsewa officials and act according to their guidelines."
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In an attempt to help the Munda community, a private organisation is working to improve their economic conditions. Last year, the organisation provided aid to the farmers in lemongrass cultivation in 100 acres of land area but the process did not yield expected results.
"We get full support from the organisation and the officials guide us in the best manner possible. We are thankful to them," said Sanika Pahan.
To help the farmers, four big seminars, training programs and many gram sabhas were organized with the help of Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda and Kunti's district DC Suraj Kumar. The brothers were inspired by these seminars and workshops and started lemongrass cultivation.
Laxman Mahato, a progressive farmer associated with the society's WhatsApp group service team, provides free lemongrass plants to farmers across the district. The district administration has approved the establishment of two distillery units in Maranghada and Surunda villages to help the farmers.
Farmers of Maranghada area are also trying to extract lemon oil using local techniques and are preparing to plant lemongrass across 22 acres of land.
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