One-day Training cum Awareness Programme on “Cultivation, Processing, Value Addition and Marketing of Aromatic Crops” organized by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR - IIIM), Jammu at Auditorium, Bhaderwah Campus, University of Jammu on March 13, 2022. More than 100 farmers and other stakeholders including 40 women from different villages of Chenab valley participated in this programme.
The Chief Guest of the programme, Col. Rajat Parmar, Commanding Officer 4 Rashtriya Rifles appreciated the efforts of CSIR-IIIM and motivated the unemployed youth of the region to take full advantage of the opportunities being provided under CSIR-Aroma Mission. He assured all the necessary support from the Indian Army side for the upliftment of farmers and unemployed youth of Bhaderwah. The programme was also attended by Mr. Chandrashekar, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Bhaderwah. He apprised the participants about the different activities of the Forest department.
Dr. Sumeet Gairola, Nodal Scientist, CSIR-Aroma Mission (CSIR-IIIM Jammu) conveyed the message of Dr. D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu. Dr. Reddy in his message assured the participants that the institute will provide all the necessary support required for the development of the aroma industry in the region. Dr. Gairola also briefed that the institute has distributed 8 Lakh free Lavender plants to the farmers of Doda district in the last one year and has already installed six distillation units in the district. In addition, CSIR-IIIM will install four additional distillation units under CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-II in Tipri, Lerote, Hud and Manhwa villages of Bhaderwah to provide free processing support to the Lavender farmers.
Dr. Vikash Babu, Senior Scientist, CSIR-IIIM discussed about the value-addition and entrepreneurship opportunities in the region through Aroma Mission for making India self-reliant in the field of production of some essential oils. Young entrepreneur of Bhaderwah, Mr. Touqeer Bagwan said that his company has been supporting farmers of the Bhaderwah region for many years. Progressive Lavender farmer, Mr. Bharat Bhushan shared his experience about Lavender cultivation and post-harvest processing and marketing of Lavender. The industry representative Mr. Anshul Sharma, Jubee & Sarha Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Kanpur discussed with the farmers about industry expectations and the development of high-quality value-added products.