BUDGAM, OCTOBER 13: One-day awareness cum training programme on Cultivation, Processing and Marketing of Medicinal & Aromatic plants was organized by CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu and Kashmir at KVK Harran, Budgam.
Prof. Naseer Ahmad Dar, (Head, KVK Budgam) was the Chief Guest of the event. In his address, he highlighted the role of CSIR IIIM in the promotion and development of the medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation and processing sector in J&K.
The programme was organised under the patronage of Director, CSIR IIIM, Dr. D. Srinivasa Reddy and Dr. Zabeer Ahmad, Head, CSIR IIIM, Srinagar and was held in two main sessions by following all necessary SOPs regarding COVID 19 safety. Inaugural and Technical session was followed by interaction with participants, farmers, growers and other stakeholders.
A formal welcome address was given by Dr. Qazi Parvaiz Hassan (Pr. Scientist, CSIR IIIM) by welcoming all the dignitaries, participants, media personnel and all associated functionaries involved in this event for the successful conduct of the programme.
Dr. Parvaiz apprised the participants about the main objective of the event regarding the promotion of medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation for income and employment generation.
Dr. Muzamil Ahmad gave an overview of CSIR IIIM mandate & activities and highlighted the role of IIIM.
Dr. Shakir P Sultan as an organizer of the event gave a detailed presentation, highlighting the prospectus & scope of Aroma industry in J&K and also gave an overview of the CSIR Aroma mission and its importance for the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants for better returns and income generation.
He gave a detailed description of many high-value aromatic plants like Lavender, Rose cultivated on large scale in different parts of the country and J&K with an aim to increase farmers income by the cultivation of these high-value cash crops. Since there are Karewas in the district, Budgam has the vast potential to emerge as the frontrunner in the cultivation of Aromatic and medicinal plants thus making Purple Revolution, a success story, Dr. Shakir Added.
More than 100 participants including growers, farmers, entrepreneurs and local youth from different villages/zones participated in the programme. The participants attending the event also had an opportunity to take part in one-on-one face-to-face interaction and discussion about some queries, doubts and supporting help that IIIM and other government departments can provide in this sector for starting growing and cultivating these high-value cash crops.