Water from the Ram Pumps is used in the cultivation and processing of Lemon Grass, the lowly Tanglad, which is planted in the mountain village.


Instead of bringing down the harvested Lemon Grass, Auke and his Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc., established an Oil Processing Facility right in the village powered by burning bamboo or wood.


The equipment, designed by Auke Idzenga himself, costs only P300,000, including expenses incurred in setting up the facility.


The Australian Government has extended a P1-M development assistance and the farmers are now building a concrete structure to serve as their processing facility, laboratory, and office.


The farmers produce Lemon Grass Oil which is sold at P2,500 per liter and Hydrosol, healthy water produced during the distilling process, which is sold for P3,000 per plastic jar.


Every month, Tanglad farmers in the area generate P100,000 from the Lemon Grass oil with additional earnings from its by-product, Hydrosol.


The Lemon Grass Oil is used as the main ingredient for massage oil and also for cooking and food flavoring.


The Hydrosol, on the other hand, could be mixed with natural water or coffee.


It is said to be effective for "hydration, soothing inflammation, healing, and regeneration, balancing sebum and astringing (astringing is constricting small blood vessels, it's more commonly known as 'toning')."


Planting Lemon Grass up in the mountains also has environmental benefits because it prevents soil erosion since only the leaves are harvested.


Since the mother plants are allowed to ratoon or regrow, the roots hold the soil preventing soil erosion.


Auke, however, said that the lack of knowledge on the benefits of Lemon Grass Oil and Hydrosol prevents farmers from expanding because of its limited market.


"It's a niche market so we could not expand because it would saturate the market and depress prices," Auke said.


Given the needed exposure to its benefits and its contribution to environmental protection, I believe that Lemon Grass Oil and Hydrosol would gain popularity and create a bigger market.