Revitalization of citronella industry in the Southern Region

Abstract

Citronella is one of the most important industrial crops grown by village farmers in die southern region of Sri Lanka. Present total local producdon and export volume have been declined seriously, resulting abundance of citronella cultivations. But Ceylon citronella has comparatively higher world market price than Java and China citronella. The objectives of the study were to examine the present situation of citronella industry; to identify factors affecting the declining of production and exports and to come up with suggestions and remedial measures for revitalization of citronella industry. The study was mainly based on primary data collected through a field survey from Hambantota and Rathnapura districts. Simple random sampling was utilized to select thirty cultivators and thirty distillery owners of citronella. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the date during 2008. The study revealed that the average farm land extent is about two to less than four acre consisting small and medium scale farmers. Majority of the cultivations are more than twenty years old. The citronella industry is becoming more dependent on correct cultural practices. However, weeding is the only important cultural practice adopted by farmers and no one use fertilizers. The yield variation between major growing areas is found to be very high (Hambantota-10 kg/Ac/harvest, Ratnapura-30kg/Ac/harvest). Present marketing channel of citronella industry mainly consists with growers, distillery owners (collectors) and exporters. Net Present Value (Rs36,684) and B/C ratio (2.508) were higher in Rathnapura district showing more benefits than other growing areas. Uneconomic yield, labour unavailability and insufficient raw materials supply for oil distillation were main factors affecting the declining of production and exports in the point of view of cultivators, processors and exporters. Introduction of subsidy scheme for cultivation and fertilization, mechanization of harvesting, implementation of productivity improvement programmes for existing citronella cultivations such as replanting, introduction of new process to purchase oil based on quality, expansion of extension services and development of infrastructure facilities are suggestions for revitalization of citronella industry in die southern region.