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Citronella Business Plan

Citronella oil is extracted from the citronella grass plant and used in products like perfumes, soaps, and insect repellents. In the Philippines, citronella production is still small, with only 20 hectares planted. Commercial production of 1,000 hectares is feasible in Leyte. The United States is the largest importer of citronella oil. Locally growing citronella would be more advantageous than importing the oil and save on foreign exchange. There are two main varieties of citronella grass grown - Lenabatu and Mahapengari. Proper soil preparation, planting, fertilization, harvesting, and a lifespan of 4-5 years are needed for successful commercial citron

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302 views4 pages

Citronella Business Plan

Citronella oil is extracted from the citronella grass plant and used in products like perfumes, soaps, and insect repellents. In the Philippines, citronella production is still small, with only 20 hectares planted. Commercial production of 1,000 hectares is feasible in Leyte. The United States is the largest importer of citronella oil. Locally growing citronella would be more advantageous than importing the oil and save on foreign exchange. There are two main varieties of citronella grass grown - Lenabatu and Mahapengari. Proper soil preparation, planting, fertilization, harvesting, and a lifespan of 4-5 years are needed for successful commercial citron

Uploaded by

Ladyj Bizhub
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CITRONELLA BUSINESS PLAN

Citronella (Cymbopogon confertiflorus), a cogon-grass look-alike which


has various industrial uses because of its oil, can be grown here in our
country. The oil extracted from citronella is highly valued because it is
used in perfumes, mosquito repellants, soaps, spray, disinfectants, paints
and polish.

In the Philippines, citronella production is still in the infant stage. There


are only about 20 hectares planted to it in Leyte. Commercial production
is feasible in 1,000 has in the towns of Babatngon, Biliran, Javier and
Villaba also in Leyte.

The major buyers of citronella oil are the manufacturer if perfumes,


laundry and toilet soaps, cigarettes and other allied items. U.S.A. is the
world’s largest market of citronella oil.

Citronella oil is an indispensable ingredient in the manufacture of soap,


perfumes and other industrial products. Our country is importing
citronella grass in large quantities although the grass from which this oil is
derived can be grown profitably under Philippine conditions. Citronella
grass is found to be indigenous in the region. It is planted in backyard
scale and used for bathing and other medicinal purposes only.

The recent economic crisis led to the realization that cultivating the crop
locally would be more advantageous than importing the oil. The country
could save a lot in foreign exchange by promoting the commercial
planting of citronella grass.

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Citronella Production Guide:
CROP VARIETIES
Citronella belongs to Family Graminae. It is an essential source of
citronella oil and is predominantly grown in Java and Ceylon. There are
two cultivated types – Mahapengeri and Lenabatu. These two types
derived from wild “mana” grass. Cymbopogon coonfertiflorus (Stapf),
which is the parent material of all commercially, cultivated citronella grass.

A. Varieties and Uses:


1. Lenabatu (Ceylon type) – Cymbopogon nardus (L) Rendle Adropogon
nardus Ceylon de Jong narrow-leafed, hardier and long-lived. It is reported
to contain only 15 – 65% of total acetyl sable expressed as geranial. Used
as deodorant for mosquito repellant. Scent for soaps, sprays,
disinfectants, paints and polish.
2. Mahapengari (Java type) – Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt
(Adropogon nardus Java de Jong) broad leafed, requires good soil and
much care in growing and cultivating. This variety contains around 85%
“total acetyl sable expressed as geranial. Used as starting materials for the
preparation of industrially important perfumery compounds derived from
“geranial” citronella.
CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT
1. Soil – a suitable area for citronella plantation could be a young field,
virgin or regenerated (green-fertilized) soils. The grass thrives in any type
of soil provided they are sufficiently fertile. However, a deep sandy soil
offers the natural recondition for good quality oil. Although the growth of
the plants on sand is meager and equally not large, the proportion of oil in
relation to weight of leaves is more favorable.
2. Climate – a humid climate with regular rainfalls would probably offer
the most favorable condition for good yield and quality of oil. It likewise
guarantees longevity of plantings.
3. Elevation – grows in low and high altitude up to 2,000 ft. and more, but
thrives best from 600 to 700 ft. altitude.
4. Plant Materials – Use tillers of citronella grass obtained by dividing old
clumps. Each clump could yield about ten sturdy divisions.
5. Plant Materials Requirements – Place about two sturdy divisions or
tillers to each hole.

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6. Distance of Planting – Plant at a distance of 3 x 3 ft. But in poorer soil
the interval may be less. A 2×2 interval is sufficient in the planting period
intended to last for only a short time
7. Planting Time – Citronella requires fairly large amounts of moisture for
proper establishment. Planting should be during the rainy season.
8. Land Preparation and Planting – If possible prepare the field
thoroughly. However, under coconut areas, and in some other cases, just
underbrush the area, dig hole and insert the plant materials vertically.
Bury the tillers fairly deep, otherwise the clumps will easily work
themselves out of the ground.
9. Cultivation and Weeding – Hill-up (loosen the soil) and weed to
improve the yield and for proper maintenance of the plantation.
However, it is advisable to practice hilling-up right after every harvest to
hasten the recovery and growth of the plants.

10. Fertilization – The use of chemical fertilizers increases the grass yield,
however, higher yield of oil is obtained on fresh soil as compared to
chemically fertilized soil. Green fertilization makes the soil loose and has a
favorable influence upon the oil content of the citronella. Apply urea or
16-20-0 at 2-3 bags/ha. either basal or as side dressing.
11. Pest and Diseases – In their natural habitat these plants are not
prone to pests or disease. Also this plant is largely free from pest and
diseases because of aromatic smell.
HARVESTING
1. Time of Harvest – The usual practice is to harvest 9 months after
planting. However, under Leyte condition, harvest eight months after
planting. Three to four harvests could be done a year under favorable
conditions. The rainy season harvest is usually larger than the dry season
harvest.
2. Proper Time for Cutting – It is very important to choose the most
appropriate time of harvesting the grass. A too short growing period
decreases the productivity of the plants to such extent that a field can
perish within a short time. Along growing period permits the plant to
develop its full root system, which is important for longer life span.
However, definite cutting period cannot always be indicated in a climate
where the rainy and dry seasons are quite irregular. Proper timing for
cutting is advisable in order to prevent the grass from flowering. The best
time for cutting seems to be when the stem has six adult leaves with the
seventh leaf in rolled up position.

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3. Proper way of Cutting – Cut the leaves about 6-8 inches above ground
level. Too low cutting results to the inclusion of many nearly oil-free parts
of the blades which, when distilled, diminish oil yield. After the grass is cut,
remove the old, dry leaves from the fresh leaves before the leaf bundles
are hauled prior to processing.
4. Life Span of Citronella in the Field – Short intervals between growing
periods of ratoons shorten the life span of citronella in the field. The
plantation will be productive for only slightly more than two years.
However, in fertile soils where greater care is taken during the growing
period the plantation may last from four to five years.
Less productive fields should be discontinued because of citronella is
rather a soil exhausting crop and prolonged growth of the grass in it may
be detrimental to the soil, the plants, the yield and quality of oil.

5. Yield of Oil – It is difficult to express the yield of oil on a per hectare


basis in definite figures because it depends on so many factors: climate,
fertility of the soil, age of plantation and method of distillation.
The average yield of oil is about 0.7%. It fluctuates from 0.5% in the rainy
season to 1.2% during the dry season. The estimated yield of grass range
from 12 – 35 metric ton/ha. with 0.7% average yield of oil or 84 –247 kg. of
oil per hectare.

References: DOST Biliran, Provincial Science and Technology Center /


Citronella, assamagribusiness

For more information, please visit or call:

Bureau of Plant Industry – Crop Research Production


692 San Andres Street Malate, Manila, Philippines
Phone: (02) 8525-7313 / (02) 8525-7857
Fax: (02) 8521-7650
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit Website (This link will open on a new window)
Source: www.bpi.da.gov.ph / Photo: smartparenting.com.ph

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