Is vetiver khus farming profitable and what is the oil yield from the roots?

Vetiver (khus) is unusual among aromatic grasses because the oil comes from the roots, not the leaves, so harvesting means digging up the root mass, which is labour intensive and the crop takes longer to mature (commonly around 12 to 18 months before root harvest). Khus oil is a high-value perfumery and fragrance oil, but root oil recovery is low, typically in a rough range of around 0.3 to 1 percent of dry roots depending on variety, soil and how long the roots grew, and the oil quality (and price) is strongly affected by soil type and growing conditions. Because oil yield, root yield and oil price all vary so much, treat any income figure as only indicative and build your own from a confirmed buyer rate; do not plan around a fixed number. Vetiver also has a strong secondary value: its deep root system makes it excellent for soil and water conservation, bunds and erosion control, and the dried roots and grass have a small craft and cooling-screen (khus tatti) market. It needs distillation of the roots, so share or hire a still as a small grower. The crop suits marginal land but the long duration and root harvesting cost mean you should secure an oil buyer and understand the labour before committing.