Palamu. Nilgai has become the biggest challenge for farmers in rural areas. As soon as farmers sow any crop, Nilgai enter the fields in groups and destroy the entire crop within minutes. Wheat, maize, pulses, vegetables – no traditional crop is safe from this loss.
Farmers troubled by this problem have now started looking for such alternatives which cannot even be touched by the Nilgai. Farmers who have been doing farming in many villages for years say that due to Nilgai, both their hard work and cost were ruined, which was directly affecting their livelihood.
Medicinal cultivation of peppermint, palmarosa, basil and lemon grass.
Farmer Priyaranjan Kumar told Local 18 that farmers troubled by the continuous attacks of Nilgai have now adopted an easier option – cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants. Among these, peppermint, palmarosa, basil and lemon grass are prominent.
agricultural production and good income
He further says that among medicinal crops, especially peppermint has given new hope to the farmers. 70 to 80 kg of peppermint oil can be easily produced in one acre. Many farmers have also installed oil extraction machines near their fields, due to which the process of oil extraction has become easier and dependence on middlemen has been eliminated.
Crop ready in 90 days and new path for farmers
The biggest advantage of these medicinal crops is that they are ready in about 90 days. There is no danger to Nilgai, no need of guarding and fixed market price – these three reasons have not only stabilized but also doubled the income of farmers.
The farmers who were worried about Nilgai and were thinking of leaving farming, are now returning to the fields by adopting medicine based farming. This method is not only safe but is also proving to be more beneficial in terms of income than traditional crops.
