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Bangalore, May 12: Brand crazy folks should know that the fruity flavour of your favourite international brands of cakes and gins, is from the Davana aromatic plant just on the periphery of Bangalore.
The Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) on Bellary Road is the only centre of this kind in South India, where it is tested before export.
CIMAP scientist-in-charge EVS Prakasa Rao said that the Davana oils are exclusively exported. In Karnataka, it is cultivated on 600 acres spread across Chikmagalur, Kolar and on the premises of CMAP in Bangalore Urban and Rural districts.
It is also cultivated in parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. He was speaking on the sidelines of the National Technology Day celebrations here on Sunday.
The centre awarded five farmers and entrepreneurs on the occasion in recognition of their achievements in commercial crop cultivation.
He said that the centre acts as a facilitator for farmers and entrepreneurs to cultivate the crop under the Davana Contract Cultivation Programme.
“The crop is highly priced in international markets, especially in Western Europe and North America. Besides growing the crop for experimental purposes, we also provide quality certificates to distillers across South India before the oils are exported. Around five tonnes of oil is exported every year. A litre of oil is priced at Rs 15,000,” he said.
The centre spread across 38 acres in Allasandra, houses a laboratory, processing unit, nursery, poly house, glass house and two distillery units.
Under the latest mission programme, CIMAP also concentrates on Patchouli cultivation. This aromatic plant is used in perfumes, soaps, essence sticks and gutkas due to its fixative properties.
“Under the Pachouli Bio-village Mission Programme, we facilitate cultivation in Bhatkal, Udupi, Uttara and Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Mandya, Chikmagalur and Kolar. The conducive agro-climatic-zone is ideal for the commercial cultivation of these crops,” he added.
With its headquarters in Lucknow, the institute, set up in 1960, is under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology. It aims to propagate all medicinal and aromatic plants as eco-plant models in a cluster approach to establish a complete value chain, from providing genetically superior varieties, improved agro-techniques, post harvest methods, field distillation, quality control and marketing.
“To ensure good commercial viability of all plants, various 'bio-village' and 'model organic farming' programmes are chalked out every year,” he said.