How profitable is lemongrass and how many cuttings does it give in a year?

Lemongrass is a hardy perennial grass that, once planted, can be harvested for several years (commonly around 4 to 6 years before replanting), and it usually gives multiple cuttings per year (often 3 to 5 depending on climate, irrigation and management). This multi-cut, multi-year nature is its main attraction: low input, drought tolerant, grows on marginal and sloping land where other crops struggle, and not heavily eaten by animals because of the strong smell. It is grown mainly for lemongrass essential oil (rich in citral), distilled from the freshly cut grass. Oil recovery is low, often in the rough range of 0.3 to 0.8 percent of fresh grass, so income depends on total grass tonnage, oil recovery, and the oil price, which swings with the market. Because the figures vary so much, treat any income claim with caution and build your own estimate from your expected grass yield, a realistic recovery, and a confirmed buyer price. The two real make-or-break factors are access to a distillation unit and a genuine oil buyer. Some growers also sell fresh lemongrass for tea and culinary use, which avoids distillation. Verify oil price and buyer before scaling.