Climate Adaptation Efforts to Safeguard India’s Mint Industry

Mint oil is one of India’s most valuable agricultural products. The country supplies around 80% of the global demand, with nearly 70% of this production coming from Uttar Pradesh.

Often called “ATM” or “green gold,” mint is considered a cash crop because it helps smallholder farmers and families earn income quickly. India’s mint industry employs more than a million people, spanning the entire supply chain—from cultivation to oil production and trading.

Growing Demand, Shrinking Supply

While global demand for mint oil is expected to rise, India’s production is slowing. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), the global mint market is projected to grow from $7.7 billion in 2025 to $9.7 billion by 2030. This growth should represent an opportunity for India’s farmers; however, mounting challenges—many of which have been worsened by climate change—pose a threat to the industry.

Producers face stiff competition from synthetic alternatives, high taxes, rising diesel and labour costs, and the effects of climate change, including soaring temperatures, erratic rainfall, and degraded soils from heavy fertiliser and pesticide use.

Solutions for a Sustainable Mint Industry

To safeguard the industry, the Indian government and research institutions are stepping in. Reforms to the tax and trade system now separate natural menthol from synthetic menthol in the country’s trade code, offering some protection to natural producers.

The Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), a government research body in Uttar Pradesh, is at the forefront of innovation. CIMAP trains farmers in improved cultivation practices and has developed more heat-resilient, higher-yielding mint varieties. These varieties require less irrigation and fertiliser, cutting production costs while boosting oil yields by up to 31%.

CIMAP also helps farmers diversify their income streams. For example, by-products from mint oil distillation can be transformed into new products—such as aerosols from mint water and biodegradable cutlery from mentha waste—offering farmers additional revenue and greater industry and climate resilience in a changing market.