This research proposal presentation analyzes the cost and benefits of producing and processing Java and Ceylon citronella. Citronella is an aromatic grass that is cultivated in tropical regions and used to produce essential oils. The presentation outlines the background, problem statement, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes of the research. The methodology describes the materials, land preparation, planting, harvesting, and distillation processes for citronella production. The expected outcomes are to help farmers understand the costs and benefits of citronella cultivation to improve production and regular supply to processing plants.

1. VALLEY VIEW UNIVERSITY TECHIMAN
CAMPUS
RESEARCH PROPOSAL PRESENTATION ON
THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE
PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING OF JAVA
AND CEYLON CITRONELLA.
(Cymbopogonspp)
PRESENTED BY:
OPOKU JOHN MARK
211AB01000005

2. OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION
• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
• LITERATURE REVIEW
• METHODOLOGY
• WORK SCHEDULE
• EXPECTED OUTCOME
• CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION
Citronella was first introduced in India in 1959 from Indonesia (Java Island,
hence the name Java citronella) (Kaul et al. 1997). Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus
Jowitt) is an aromatic grass belonging to the Poaceae family which gives essential oils
upon stem distillation.
This is used extensively as a source of perfumery, soap, cosmetic and flavoring in
industries throughout the world. India has been a leading producer of essential oil
including oil of citronella.Citronella is an aromatic perennial herb with fibrous roots. It is
erecting over 2m tall with smooth and shiny leaves which are glabrous at the nodes. The
leaf blades are linear, gradually tapering to a long, membranous, acuminate and up to 1 m
long and 1.5 cm wide, drooping at two-third of its length. The leaf sheath is smooth and
glabrous, yellow or purplish-red in color. The inflorescence is very large, erect, finally
drooping, consisting of a branched and rebranched axis.One of the important essential
oils extracted from aromatic grasses is citronella oil obtained from citronella grass.
This oil is used extensively as a source of important perfumery chemicals like
citronellol, citronellal and geraniol, which finds its extensive use in soap,
perfumery, cosmetic and flavoring industries throughout the world. It is classified in
trade into two types -Ceylon citronella oil, obtained from Cymbopogon
nardus(inferior type), while Java type citronella oil obtained from Cymbopogon
winterianus (superior type).It is cultivated in parts of tropical and subtropical areas
of Asia, Africa and America (Shasany et al. 2000).

4. Presently, 300-350 tons of oil are produced in the India for the last 6-8 years in
the states of Assam, Karnataka, U.P, M.P, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West
Bengal. Areas receiving good and distributed rainfalls throughout the year are
suitable for cultivation of Citronella (Katiyar et al. 2011).In Ghana Citronella
cultivation was introduced by Amansie Resolute as part of its restoration programme as
a response to environmental requirement. The cultivation of this crop attracted about
70% of the farmers due to the high demand for its oil. The Ministry Of Trade and
Industry realizing the potentials of the plant also came in to support by providing
processing plant to support the farmers. The people at Morrison, a village around Axim
In the western region are also noted to be into production of citronella.

5. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The challenges that confront citronella cultivation are that farmers are unable to acquire
adequate working capital for expansion of the cash crop that compelled the plant to
operate below capacity while poor management collapsed the plant all together.
It is therefore necessary to estimate the cost and benefit analysis of producing citronella
per acre to enhance regular supply of raw materials to processing plants across the nation.

6. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
AIM
The main aim of the study is to analyze the cost and benefits of the production and
processing of Java and Ceylon citronella.
• SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
o To identify the major cost components in the production of both Java and Ceylon
citronella.
o To identify the major cost component in the processing of both Java and Ceylon
citronella
o To estimate the actual cost of production of both Java and Ceylon citronella.
o To know the actual benefits of the products produced from both Java and Ceylon
Citronella.

7. LITERATURE REVIEW
BOTANY OF THE PLANT
Cymbopogon nardus is cultivated in parts of tropical and subtropical areas of Asia,
Africa and America (Shasany et al. 2000).
Areas receiving good and distributed rainfalls throughout the year are suitable for
cultivation of Citronella (Katiyar et al. 2011).
Citronella is an aromatic grass belonging to the Poaceae family
It is erecting over 2m tall with smooth and shiny leaves
Citronella grows best in sandy loam soils. Heavy clayey soils, which tend to water log and
light sandy soils are not suitable for this crop. It does not tolerate water stagnation.
A good amount of organic matter is desirable.
Citronella is propagated by splitting the clumps of vigorously growing plant of 6-months to
one year old into slips (Annon, 2013).
C. winterianus essential oil is rich in citronellal, geraniol and citronellol (Katiyar et al.
2011) but consists of other constituents like citronellyl acetate, L-limonene, ellemol
and other sesquiterpene alcohols.
It also consists of monoterpene constituents like citral, citronellol, citronellal, linalool,
elemol, 1, 8-cineole, limonene, geraniol, b-carophyllene, methyl heptenone, geranyl
acetate and geranyl formate.

8. The industrial interest in essential oils is due to their application as fragrances in perfumes, as
flavour additives in food products or as pharmaceutical products and desirable repellent
characteristics against mosquitoes (Katz et al. 2008; Simic et al. 2008; Silva et al. 2011).
USES OF CITRONELLA OIL
Citronella oil is commonly known for its natural insect repellent properties, though it has
many other uses in aromatherapy.
Traditional uses has include treatment of fever, intestinal parasites, digestive and menstrual
problems.
In Chinese medicine, it is used for rheumatic pain.
It can be used as massage oil for aching joints and muscles.
The steam volatile essential oils extracted from its leaves are used in perfumery, cosmetics,
pharmaceuticals and flavoring industries. Citronella winterianus essential oil has CNS effect
and anticonvulsant properties (Guenther, 1950 and Blanco et al.2007).

9. METHODOLOGY
MATERIALS NEEDED.
For successful production of Citronella, the following materials will be obtained.
•
Land for production
•
Citronella stocks/Slips
•
Organic manure (poultry droppings)
•
Cutlass/sicle
•
Metal drum
•
Coiled pipe
•
Condenser
•
Heat source
•
Knapsack Sprayer
•
Herbicide
LAND PREPARATION
•
Fields should be prepared thoroughly by plowing and harrowing and removing the
different types of plant debris.

10. •
Apply farm yard manure to the soil before ploughing is done.
•
Also apply a pre emergence herbicide 10-15 days before planting.
PLANTING
•
The plant is propagated vegetatively by the use of slips. As soon as the land is ready planting
follows.
•
Plants will be cultivated at a distance of 30x30cm in other to minimize weed emergence in the
plantation.
WEED CONTROL
•
The purpose of the weeding is to control weeds that compete with the crops and prevent
the spread of diseases and pests.
•
20-25 days after planting, the first weeding is done and the second weeding is done from
40-60 days after planting with cutlass and hoe.
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
•
Organic manure (poultry dropping) will be the main source of fertilizer for the plants.
•
Fertilizer application will be carried out 4weeks after panting.

11. IRRIGATION
•
Since the rains are not consistent, irrigation will be done once in every 10 days as the
plant required. Sprinkler irrigation will be used.
HARVESTING
•
Harvesting will begin five to six months after the plants begin to grow.
•
Harvesting will be done early in the morning and be completed before 12 O’clock.
•
Harvesting will be done by cutting the leaves and some part of the stock about 15cm from
the ground.
•
The leaves will be left to wither for 24hrs before distillation is carried out.
EXTRACTION OF OIL
•
The oil will be extracted by means of hydro or steam distillation.
•
The distillation plant will be set up immediately after the grass is ready to be harvested.
 The setup will consist of the following:
 2 Metallic drums

12.  A pipe
 A collector
 Heat source.
 One of the drums will serve as the cooking pot and the other as the condenser.
The condenser will contain water to cool the vapour from the pipe and is collected in the
collector at the other end of the pipe.
Bottling and Labelling
•
The oil will be bottled and labeled after distillation.
The label will consist of the following:
– The name of the plant from which the oil is derived
DATA TO BE COLLECTED
The cost of planting materials
The cost of manure
Date of planting
Date of emergence
Date of harvesting
Number of slips per month

13. Color of the oil
Quantity of oil
Cost of oil

14. EXPECTED OUTCOME
It is expected that, before a farmer attempts to go into the production and processing of
citronella he or she will have a fair knowledge about the cost and benefits.
CONCLUSION
The expected results from the project are foreseen to help improve the production of Java and
Ceylon citronella in Ghana.

15. REFRENCES:
1. Guenther, E., 1950. In: Guenther, E. (Ed.), Essential oils. Van Nostrand Co., Inc, London
2. International Journal of Advanced Research (2013), Volume 1, Issue 6, 504-521
3. Katiyar, R., Gupta, S., Yadav, K.R. (2011): Cymbopogon winterianus: an important
species for essential java Citronella oil and medicinal values, National Conference
on Forest Biodiversity: Earth‟ s living treasure, 22 May, FRI, Kanpur.
4. Katz, T.M., Miller, J.H., Hebert, A.A. (2008): Insect repellents: Historical
perspectives and new developments. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol., 58: 865-871.
5. Silva, C.F., Moura, F.C., Mendes, M.P., Pessoa, F.L.P., (2011): Extraction of
Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) essential oil using supercritical carbon dioxide:
Experimental data and mathematical modelling, Brazilian J. of Chem. Eng., 28:
343-350.
6. Simic, A., Rancic, A., Sokovic, M.D., Ristic, M., Grujic-Jovanovic, S., Vukojevic, J.,
Marin, P.D. (2008): Essential oil composition of Cymbopogon winterianus and Carum
carvi and their antimicrobial activities. Pharmaceutical Biology.,46: 437-441.
7. Shasany, A.K., Lal, R.K., Darokar, M.P., Patra, N.K., Garg, A., Kumar, S.,
Khanuja, S.P.S., (2000): Phenotypic and RAPD diversity among Cymbopogon
winterianus Jowitt accessions in relation to Cymbopogon nardus Rendle. Genet.
Resour. Crop Evol., 47: 553–559.

16. 8. Kaul, P.N., Bhattacharya, A.K., and Rajeshwara Rao B.R. 1997. Chemical composition
of the essential oil of Java Citronella(Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) grown in Andhra
Pradesh. PAFAI J. 19: 29-33
9. Blanco, M.M., Costa, C.A.R.A., Freire, A.O., santos Jr., J.G., Costa, M., 2007.
Neurobehavioral effect of essential oil of Cymbopogon citrates in mice. Phytomedicine,
in press, doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2007.04.007.