Essential oil from Ilam exported to France

Mangalbare (Ilam), Jan 31: Herbal extract essential oil produced in Ilam is exported abroad.

The essential oil manufacturing plant operated by Nitya Raj Dahal at Maijogmai Rural Municipality has been exporting its products overseas. The factory established 13 years back started exporting herbs and essential oils last year.

Dahal said the products are mainly exported to France. “Our factory produces essential oils from mugwort, black juniper, mint, dhasingre (wintergreen), and other locally grown herbs. At present, only extracts from mugwort, cypress, and mint are exported overseas,” he said.

According to Dahal, they are preparing to extract essential oil from geranium, wild marigold, black mint, and rosemary, among other plants, shortly. “The foreign customers have started liking Nepali natural herbal products, and we have started producing them as per their demand,” he added.

Stating that he is an Osho follower, Dahal said foreigners who come for meditation at his place buy his products and take them home. “In the beginning, the foreigners were not so interested in our products; they started to like our products after we informed them about the value of these products. We are encouraged after the increase in the sale of our products of late,” Dahal shared.

The essential oil extracted from black juniper is sold for Rs 2,500 per kilogram, from the mugwort plant for Rs 6,000, from mint for Rs 7,000, and wintergreen for Rs 7,000. Dahal has been growing various varieties of herbs in 35 ropanis of land.

He also buys herbs from local farmers. Keshav Dahal, a local, said commercial production has been done at the local level by utilizing the vacant land in the village. —RSS