Lemongrass is a perennial aromatic plant, which grows wildly in the hills of Kerala. About 40 years ago Kerala’s tribal communities have used lemongrass as a primary source of income. Firewood, as it was more available at that time, was utilized for burning and heating to extract the oil. Over time the practice has become less common.
In Valaramkunnu village in Wayanad district, nature has provided lemongrass in abundance. In order to harness this wealth without disrupting the balance of flora and fauna, the practice of essential oil distillation was revived. The traditional craft was combined with modern technology by students and faculty from the Center for Wireless Networks & Applications (Amrita WNA) of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University. A distillation unit was set up, utilising solar energy in the heating process.
As part of this initiative, four members of Amritavarshini and Sudhamayi Self-Help Group (SHG) received training organized by Amrita SeRVe on the production process. The plan is to form a joint liability group (JLG) with these four women, get registration and a license to sell the organic lemongrass oil they are already producing. Benefits of forming a JLG are that members are equally responsible for their finances and operations, and this model can easily be formed inside of an SHG.The following photo essay gives insight into the training leading to the final product ready to sell.
Cutting the lemongrass in the hills. Lemongrass is a perennial plant whose leafs can grow up to one meter (three feet) in length. Because it is a wild plant, common in this region, green fresh plants need to be found for oil distillation. The top of the plant is cut so the stem remains. New leaves come out of the stem and the grass grows again.
Sandhya, Sunita, Meenakshi and Aneela bringing the lemongrass to the distillation unit from the hills.
Preparing the bundles. Solar mirror dish and distillation room in the background.
Inside the distillation room, Debasish from AmritaWNA is training how to use the boiler chamber. AmritaWNA installed the distillation unit in Valaramkunnu in 2017.
Opening the boiling chamber.
Approximately 10 kg of lemongrass is put in the chamber where it is treated for 1.5 hour in solar heated steam.
Closing the boiler chamber.
Swami Jnanamritananda is explaining how to tighten the opposite fixtures simultaneously for safety to keep the pressure in.
Br. Sreekanth explaining the process.
Checking meter readings.
The solar mirror is aimed at the sun in such a way that the solar rays are being collected and reflected on the drum which contains water. The heat is concentrated so that the water boils and the steam is channelled into the boiler through a sealed pipe.
Once the steaming is over,…
…the lid is carefully opened.
Steamed lemongrass is taken out of the boiler.
Lemongrass oil is formed along with a residual solution. Due to the lower density of the oil, it floats on top of the water.
To separate the essential oil from the watery solution, the water is drained.
Pure raw lemongrass oil, before passing through filter paper.
Holding the final product.
Lemongrass oil: known for its medicinal properties, for example in cough treatment; world-famous for its pleasant fragrance, used in perfumes, soaps and cosmetics; favoured by conscious consumers as organic mosquito repellent and natural disinfectant.
Cutting the lemongrass in the hills. Lemongrass is a perennial plant whose leafs can grow up to one meter (three feet) in length. Because it is a wild plant, common in this region, green fresh plants need to be found for oil distillation. The top of the plant is cut so the stem remains. New leaves come out of the stem and the grass grows again.
Sandhya, Sunita, Meenakshi and Aneela bringing the lemongrass to the distillation unit from the hills.
Preparing the bundles. Solar mirror dish and distillation room in the background.
Inside the distillation room, Debasish from AmritaWNA is training how to use the boiler chamber. AmritaWNA installed the distillation unit in Valaramkunnu in 2017.
Opening the boiling chamber.
Approximately 10 kg of lemongrass is put in the chamber where it is treated for 1.5 hour in solar heated steam.
Closing the boiler chamber.
Swami Jnanamritananda is explaining how to tighten the opposite fixtures simultaneously for safety to keep the pressure in.
Br. Sreekanth explaining the process.
Checking meter readings.
The solar mirror is aimed at the sun in such a way that the solar rays are being collected and reflected on the drum which contains water. The heat is concentrated so that the water boils and the steam is channelled into the boiler through a sealed pipe.
Once the steaming is over,…
…the lid is carefully opened.
Steamed lemongrass is taken out of the boiler.
Lemongrass oil is formed along with a residual solution. Due to the lower density of the oil, it floats on top of the water.
To separate the essential oil from the watery solution, the water is drained.
Pure raw lemongrass oil, before passing through filter paper.
Holding the final product.
Lemongrass oil: known for its medicinal properties, for example in cough treatment; world-famous for its pleasant fragrance, used in perfumes, soaps and cosmetics; favoured by conscious consumers as organic mosquito repellent and natural disinfectant.
