Lemongrass Cultivation and Oil Distillation — Uttar Pradesh

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus, C. flexuosus) is an aromatic grass cultivated in UP (Barabanki, Lucknow belt) and Madhya Pradesh for essential oil — used in cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, and as a natural insect repellent. Planted once, it is harvested 3–4 times/year by cutting at 10–15 cm from the ground. Fresh grass is steam-distilled in stainless-steel or copper stills for 3–4 hours; 100 kg grass yields 500–600ml oil worth ₹500–700. CIMAP (CSIR) Lucknow has developed high-yielding varieties (Pragati, Cauvery). Lemongrass is also a good soil binder for watershed bunds, providing income while controlling erosion.