The paper analyses the working of the contract farming system for Mentha (mentha arvensis)adopted by Chhattisgarh Agricon Pvt. Ltd., to tap new sources of supply for menthol oil while at the same time promoting rural livelihoods. It examines the experience and performance of mentha contract farming schemes of the major private company in this sector, i.e., Emami Bio Tech Ltd., Kolkata, in terms of the nature of partnership schemes initiated by this company and the reasons behind the adoption and success/failure of such schemes, in order to assess the potential of the project to meet future raw material needs of the mint oil companies and promote rural livelihood. For the purpose of the study 69 farmers were selected from three districts, viz., Raipur, Mahasaumand and Durg, during the year 2006-07.
