Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 2: An awareness and demonstration event on the production, processing and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) was held at Bandipora today as part of the CSIR-Aroma Mission-agriculture II’s extension work package.
The event drew more than 170 farmers, growers, and agri-entrepreneurs from diverse districts. Farmers that are part of the mission are given assistance in the form of planting materials for the target crops and assistance in the processing of the agricultural produce. Under the mission, the CSIR-IIIM will develop several MAPs on an area of 9000 hectares.
Dr. Qazi Parvaiz Hassan gave a detailed presentation on the CSIR IIIM and its role in society’s development through the cultivation of high-value aromatic crops. He briefed the audience about the Aroma Mission, emphasizing the event’s key objectives and focusing on the development of medicinal and aromatic crop cultivation for the purpose of increasing income for marginal farmers and creating jobs, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
Deputy Commissioner Banidpora, Owais Ahmed, praised the achievements of CSIR IIIM, saying that farmers should take advantage of the mission’s training programs to enhance and polish their abilities so that they may produce more crops with less focused effort. Dr. Shahid Rasool gave a detailed presentation on the scope of industrially important medicinal and aromatic crops in securing the livelihoods of mountain farmers and entrepreneurship development.
Dr. Shahid emphasized the importance of commercial cultivation and product development of high-value medicinal and aromatic crops in the region due to their demand in the national and international flavor, fragrance, and phytopharmaceutical trade.
He informed that the successful implementation of the Aroma Mission, harnessing the production potential of the huge underutilised land tracts and varied agro-climatic conditions can bring a transformative change in the industrial agrarian situation in the country and UT. “Different aromatic crops like Lavender and Rosemary can be judiciously integrated with horticultural production system for increased net returns per unit area and time,” he said.
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