Mentha (Japanese Mint) Farming in India 2026
India's largest aromatic crop by acreage, the world's top source of natural menthol.
Overview
Mentha or Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis) is by far India's most important aromatic crop, and India is the world's leading producer and exporter of natural menthol and mint oil. The crop is grown for its essential oil, which is rich in menthol used in pharmaceuticals, oral care, confectionery, cosmetics, pan masala and balms. Uttar Pradesh dominates production, accounting for an estimated 80-85 percent of Indian mint, with Barabanki and the surrounding Terai districts as the heartland; Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana follow. It is a short-duration crop fitting into the wheat-mint rotation, planted in winter and harvested in summer, and is distilled on-farm. CSIR-CIMAP has been central to its success, developing high-menthol varieties and supplying planting material. Returns are real but sensitive to volatile menthol prices, so growers should treat income figures as indicative ranges and stay informed on market rates. Its scale, established supply chain and distillation network make it the benchmark aromatic crop for Indian farmers.
Climate
Suits warm subtropical plains with mild winters and hot summers. It needs a long, warm growing period with adequate sunlight for oil and menthol build-up and is grown under assured irrigation. The Indo-Gangetic plains, especially the UP Terai, provide ideal conditions. It does not tolerate severe frost at the seedling stage.
Soil
Prefers deep, fertile, well-drained loam to sandy loam soils rich in organic matter, with pH around 6.0-7.5. It is a nutrient- and water-demanding crop, so good fertility and assured irrigation matter. Waterlogging and very heavy or saline soils reduce oil yield.
Planting & Spacing
Propagated mainly from suckers or runners (and sometimes nursery-raised stolons), planted in winter, commonly from late December to February, at about 45-60 cm row spacing or by broadcasting suckers on prepared beds. It is heavily irrigated and fertilised. Timely early planting allows a fuller crop and sometimes a ratoon cutting before the field is vacated for the next crop.
Varieties
CSIR-CIMAP has developed several high-menthol Mentha arvensis varieties widely grown in UP, including Himalaya, Kosi, Saksham and Kushal, bred for higher oil and menthol content and adaptation to the Terai. Using certified CIMAP planting material rather than recycled local stock raises oil and menthol yield significantly.
Care & Management
Mentha is intensive: it needs frequent irrigation (often weekly in summer), good nitrogen and balanced fertiliser, and careful weed control in early growth. Maintaining soil moisture through the hot pre-harvest period is critical for oil yield. Harvest at the right maturity and distil promptly, since delay lowers oil and menthol recovery.
Pests & Diseases
Common problems include leaf-feeding caterpillars and hairy caterpillars, mites in hot dry spells, and diseases such as rust, leaf spot and stolon rot. Use clean, disease-free planting material, crop rotation, good drainage and need-based control. Because the produce is distilled for oil, residue concerns are lower than for edible crops but good practice still matters.
Yield & Harvest
Harvested about 100-120 days after planting, when the lower leaves begin to yellow, with an early-planted crop sometimes giving a second (ratoon) cut. The whole herb is wilted and steam-distilled on-farm. Oil yields are commonly cited in the range of about 100-200 kg per hectare across cuttings, depending on variety, planting date and management, with menthol making up the bulk of the oil.
Cost & Profit
Mentha has a higher input cost than most aromatic crops because of intensive irrigation, fertiliser and distillation, but it fits the wheat rotation and has a mature, ready market. Returns can be attractive when menthol prices are firm, but they swing sharply year to year, which is the main risk. Treat all income figures as indicative ranges and budget for price volatility rather than assuming a fixed profit.
These are indicative ranges. Actual cost and income vary by region, market and management, so verify locally.
Market & Demand
Mint oil and menthol have a well-established market with traders, mentha oil processors and crystallisation units, especially around the Chandausi and Barabanki belt, plus pharmaceutical, oral-care, tobacco and confectionery buyers. India dominates global supply and exports heavily. Prices are tracked openly, but volatility means timing of sale matters; on-farm distillation and selling crude oil is the norm.
Subsidy & Support
Mentha is a key crop of the CSIR Aroma Mission, with CSIR-CIMAP providing improved varieties, planting material, training and distillation guidance across the mint belt. State agriculture departments and oil-processing clusters also support growers. Confirm current Aroma Mission support and any state subsidies with CSIR-CIMAP or your district agriculture office, as terms change.
Where to grow it in India
Frequently asked questions
Where is most mentha grown in India?
When is mentha planted and harvested?
What is mentha oil used for?
Why do mentha returns vary so much?
Which mentha varieties give the most menthol?
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