How Seema Gupta turned roots into riches and wasteland into wonder

In the fertile plains of Raipur, where the horizon stretches wide and the soil carries centuries of toil, a quiet revolution has taken root. At the center of this transformation stands Seema Gupta, now fondly known as The Vetiver Lady of Chhattisgarh.

Her journey began with a spark of guidance. Under the mentorship of JACS (J.V.S.) Rao, a retired IFS officer and CEO of the Chhattisgarh Tribal Local Health Traditions & Medicinal Plants Board, Seema was introduced to the potential of vetiver, locally called khas. What many dismissed as a humble grass, she saw as a commodity with untapped market potential—a raw material for perfumes, incense, and soil conservation industries.

From Five Acres to a Hundred and Fifty

Seema’s first experiment was modest—five acres of her own land in Raipur. With determination and faith, she planted vetiver, nurturing its roots with care. The results were astonishing. The roots, once harvested and dried, became the raw material for agarbatti and perfume, industries that thrive on fragrance and purity.

Word spread quickly. Buyers sought her dried roots, perfumers praised the quality, and incense makers found in her harvest a fragrance that lingered. What began as five acres soon expanded into 150 acres of flourishing vetiver fields, a green empire built on resilience and vision.

The Fragrance of Enterprise

Vetiver is more than a crop—it is a business model. Its roots, harvested in half-tonne to one-and-a-half-tonne yields, bring profits that range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 100,000 in a single season. For Seema, this was not just income; it was agribusiness.

She built networks with local buyers, ensuring that every harvest had a market. The dried roots traveled from Raipur to incense factories and perfume houses, carrying with them the fragrance of Chhattisgarh’s soil. By positioning vetiver as a reliable supply chain product, she transformed farming into enterprise.

A Woman’s Voice of Agribusiness

Standing amidst her vetiver fields, Seema often speaks not only of farming but of markets, margins, and enterprise.

“Vetiver is not just a plant—it is a value chain. When I sell dried roots, I am supplying raw material to industries that depend on consistency and quality. From agarbatti to perfumes, vetiver connects our farms to national markets. For us farmers, this is not subsistence—it is agribusiness, and it proves that rural land can compete in high-value sectors.”

Her words reflect a shift in perspective: farming as business, roots as commodities, and villages as participants in national and global supply chains.

Beyond the Fields

The story of Seema Gupta is also the story of Chhattisgarh’s changing landscape. Vetiver, with its deep roots, conserves soil, prevents erosion, and enriches the land. What was once considered marginal or unproductive has become fertile ground for prosperity.

Her initiative has created livelihoods, strengthened rural economies, and brought recognition to women farmers who often remain invisible in the agricultural narrative. By treating vetiver as a commercial enterprise, she has shown that rural farming can align with modern agribusiness models.

The Legacy of the Vetiver Lady

Today, Seema Gupta’s name is spoken with respect in Raipur and beyond. She is not just a farmer; she is a pioneer, a mentor, and a symbol of what determination can achieve. From five acres to 150, from dried roots to perfumes and incense, her journey is a fragrance-filled testament to resilience and enterprise.

Her fields are more than crops—they are classrooms of agribusiness, laboratories of sustainability, and sanctuaries of hope.

Seema Gupta, the Vetiver Lady of Chhattisgarh, has shown that roots can change destinies. Her story is a reminder that when women lead with vision, even the humblest plant can become a thriving business.

— Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com)