Spreading the aroma

8220;Of the 1,800 native species found in India, 1,300 species are known to contain aromas. But only about 65 of these plants have a large and consistent demand in world trade. There is great scope for the commercial cultivation of aromatic crops for food flavours, fragrances, perfumes, cosmetics and related products,8221; said Prof. A.N. Purohit, a renowned plant scientist.

Dr. P.S. Khanuja, Director of the Central Institute of Medicinal 038; Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, in his presidential address outlined the success story of mint cultivation by his institute. India is the leader in menthol mint, producing 16,000 tonnes out of the annual global production of 22,000 tonnes.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri said that the state had various agro-climatic zones and efforts would be made to propagate them. Uttarakhand has 165 acres under aromatic crops and provides 1,200 quintals of oil. The first lot of oil has been extracted and sold to the market for worth more than Rs 35 lakh.