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‘Magic grass’ that works wonders

PROMOTING A CAUSE: ‘South Indian vetiver is sterile and non-invasive’

Richard Grimshaw, founder of The Vetiver Network International, tells

G. Krishnakumar that vetiver technology is the key to eco-conservation.

Richard Grimshaw calls vetiver grass the ‘Rolls Royce’ among plants on planet Earth. Founder of The Vetiver Network International, Mr. Grimshaw’s ‘magic grass’ has worked wonders across the globe due to its unique features.

For starters, the vetiver (‘raamacham’) system consists of a simple vegetative barrier (a hedge) comprising upright, rigid, dense and deeply-rooted clump grass. It slows run-off allowing sediments to stay on site, eventually forming natural terraces.

A former head of the Agricultural group of the World Bank, Mr. Grimshaw has been involved with technologies related to vetiver for over 20 years.

Pointing out that Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the centres of the origin of vetiver, he says it is actually a Tamil name. “But there are many types of vetiver. We have to be very careful in what we use. And the South Indian vetiver is particularly interesting because it is sterile and not invasive,” he said. Describing the huge potential of the grass, Mr. Grimshaw said he had introduced the vetiver technology in China in 1988. “And today, there are certainly 100 or more private sector companies that are solely working with the technology on vetiver. They are using it for highway stabilization. Vetiver is a unique plant. It has tonnes of strength. It costs 10 per cent of the cost of engineering,” he said.

Pointing out that vetiver technology could be effectively used to clean up ponds and lakes, Mr. Grimshaw said the root system of vetiver will absorb and even tolerate high levels of heavy metals. “We can do things to prevent more contamination. That is the key. Because of its tremendous growth, it will remove 90 per cent of phosphate and nitrates found in dirty water. It will clean up the water. And it produces huge amounts of biomass which we can use. There is a lot of potential,” he said.

Referring to the technical expertise being provided by The Vetiver Network International in Punjab and Haryana, Mr. Grimshaw said the technology could be effectively used to clean up the Pampa river. “We have not looked into the issue of the Pampa. But it sounds as though it has the same problems probably in any other polluted river,” he said.

Noting that the network has come at the right time to India, Mr. Grimshaw said the people here are really worried about climate change. “They are worried about what is happening about groundwater in Punjab and Haryana. They are worried about pollution in rural areas, particularly those with high population growth. And vetiver is part of the solution. It is not the whole solution. We can use it,” he said.

A person who began his career in Zambia in the 1960s as an extension worker and soil conservationist, Mr. Grimshaw said that vetiver technology has huge potential, “if we can get users for stabilisation products”.

“For example, if we use it for river bank stabilisation or pollution clean-up, you will need millions of vetivers. And they have to be produced in nurseries,” he said.

Urging the public to take up vetiver technology in a big way, Mr. Grimshaw said that vetiver hedge rows can reduce soil loss by up to 90 per cent.

“And it can reduce runoff by as much as 70 per cent. If every village has its own nursery, they can protect their community using vetiver. I call vetiver as a product which is Made in India. It is your plant. Use it,” he said before signing off.

Mr. Grimshaw said more details on vetiver technology can be had from www.vetiver.org.

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