Introduction

Bargur hills are located 70 km North of Erode, at the board of Tamilnadu and Karnataka States, at an elevation of 1000m MSL. The temperature during the summer is 25-32 and in winter 20-28 degree Celsius. Annual rainfall ranges between 900 – 1200mm. Bargur hills is a cluster of 33 hamlets in a total area of 5000 ha. These hamlets are surrounded by reserve forest.

Rationale

The main crops are ragi, lab lab under rainfed condition and beans, onion, turmeric under irrigated conditions. Since, the area is located adjacent to forest, wild animal like wild boar, deer and elephants are damaging the crops. Some times the farmers could not able to get viable yield from the crops, even after watching during night hours. This problem resulted in migration. In order to solve this problem, KVK Erode established Rosemary as an alternative crop through institutional approach.

About Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) – Lamiaceae

• It is perennial evergreen shrub, highly aromatic plant growing up to one meter hgh
• The plant is characterized with woody trunk; leaves are linear, revolute, green colour on the dorsal side and woolly grayish on the ventral side
• Oil glands are found in ventral side of the leaves. The flowers are pale blue in clusters. The calyx contains high oil content
• Principle constituents: Pinenes, camphene, limonene, cineol, borneal with camphor, linalool, terpineal, octanone, borny acetate
• Use of Rosemary: Pharmaceutical products – relax muscles, stimulant, mild analgesic and prevention of cancer. Cosmetic – skin care, hair care, and perfumery. Nourishment – common ingredient in most of the European cuisine

Economics of Rosemary Production

Initial Cultivation Cost / acre

Yearly maintenance costs / acre

B : C Ratio – 4.16

Functional linkages with various institutions

Advantages of linkages with above institutions:

Mobilization of Rs.36,16,491.00 from the various institutions for the promoting and scaling up of Rosemary crop cultivation as an alternative livelihood.

As a path of sustainability, till date (2004-07) rosemary farmers themselves have invested Rs.10.5 Lakhs (kind) in land preparation, weeding, manuring, pest and disease management and harvesting.

Involvement of people institutions 69 SHG (20 Women SHG, 49 Men SHG & 2 SHG Federations and 1 Rosemary commodity group) have been a strong basement for building rosemary enterprise.

Impact created in promotion of aromatic crops in Bargur hills:

• Increase in farmers enrolment in rosemary growers association
• 280% increase in farmers enrolment in Rosemary grower association during 2002-03 to 2006-07

Spread effect

Income pattern among rosemary farmers (2003-2004 to 2006-2007)

• Income of the individual farmers had nearly doubled from Rs.29,564 (03-04) to Rs.56,836 (06-07)
• Previous B:C ratio in their farming (Rainfed Ragi) – 1.27
• Present B:C ratio – 4.16

KVK Erode introduced rosemary crop in the Bargur Hills of Erode district in the tribal belt. PRA techniques were used for problem identification and corrective measures were implemented. Oil extraction unit was established for marketing value added product. Institutional approach was adopted for promotion of rosemary cultivation. The realized Benefit Cost Ratio was 4.16 for farmers groups.

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