With the objective of wide cultivation of citronella in the state, Manipur health & family welfare minister Langpoklakpam Jayantakumar Singh on Sunday distributed Citronella saplings to the farmers of four different districts.
Citronella plants are also known as Houna in local name.
Citronella/Houna is a kind of plant with high medicinal and aromatic value.
It is also costly at the local and international market.
The saplings were distributed to the farmers at free of cost, according to official sources.
Speaking at the sapling distribution programme at Uchekon Changangei in Manipur’s Imphal West district, Minister Jayantakumar maintained that the distribution of citronella saplings is taken up as first phase for five selected districts namely Kangpokpi, Chandel, Thoubal and Imphal West.
Stating that the remaining districts will be covered in the next phase, he said that the saplings are being distributed under the aegis of Manipur State Medicinal Plant Board.
The saplings have been brought from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Jorhat, Assam in consultation with the expert and scientists of CSIR with the objective of wide cultivation of citronella in the State.
Cultivation of this plant will help the growers to generate their income upto some extend, he added.
Maintaining that marketing facilities of the product will also be arranged by the government, he said, for this purpose, outlets have been opened in all districts.
Minister also admitted that distillation plant for citronella will be installed in Manipur by Indian council of agricultural research centre in Imphal in the month of December.
He also appealed the progressive farmers to be enthusiastic and promote the growth of this plant.
Sharing his comment during the occasion, Chief Executive Officer A Guneshor Sharma of Manipur Medicinal Plant Board said that citronella plant can be used for manufacturing white phenol, mosquito repellant, antiseptic cream/ointment, antifungal purposes etc.