Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Mar 28: CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu today organised a Capacity Building and Training Programmes on “Commercial Cultivation and Post-Harvest Management of High-Value Floricultural Crops” as a part of CSIR Floriculture Mission at CSIR-IIIM, Jammu.
The program was held under the patronage of Dr D. Srinivasa Reddy Director, CSIR IIIM Jammu, Er Ab Rahim, Head, RMBD&IST & Dr Zabeer Ahmad, Head, CSIR IIIM, Srinagar.
Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist CSIR Floriculture Mission, Dr Suphla Gupta Principal Scientist, CSIR-IIIM, Vikrant Sharma, District Floriculture Officer Jammu, Tajinder Singh, President Flower Growers Association were present in the programme.
Dr Shahid Rasool apprised the participants about the Mission implemented by CSIR-IIIM in J&K highlighting the verticals of the mission that include the development of new floral varieties; expansion of areas under region-specific floricultural crops; integration of apiculture and floriculture and establishing effective domestic and international market linkage.
“Owing to the high demand of cut flowers and loose flowers all across the county, the mission with its various strategically devised verticals offers a unique opportunity in enhancing the economy and livelihood of the UT,” he said.
In the technical session of the programme, Dr Iqra Farooq, Project Associate, CSIR-Floriculture Mission gave a detailed presentation on agrotechnologies of protected and open cultivated commercial cut floricultural crops.
Later in the farmers’ interaction session, Tajinder Singh acknowledged CSIR for launching the mission and appreciated the efforts of CSIR-IIIM for implementing the activities to benefit farmers of J&K for enhanced production and supply of quality flowers from the UT.
The challenges faced by the flower growers of the region for marketing were also discussed and addressed.
Vikrant Sharma in the farmers’ interaction session discussed the integrated role of the research institute’s development departments and grower associations in the quality production of flower crops.