Promoting sustainable livelihoods: evidence from the tribal regions of Marayoor, Kerala

The success of tribal farmers and rural youths in adopt­ing advanced cultivation and processing techniques for lemongrass in Marayoor, Idukki district, Kerala, as part of the United Nations Development Programme and Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants collaboration is discussed in the present study. The project, implemented across four tribal clusters from 2020 to 2022, focused on re-evaluating and enhancing lemongrass essential oil production technology. Results showed a three to four-fold increase in tribal farmer’s income and year-round job opportunities for rural youths in the aromatic industry. Improved cultivation and processing methods led to self-sufficiency among tribal farmers and rural youths, reducing reliance on forest resources