JAMMU, May 28: As part of its ongoing efforts to promote aromatic crop cultivation and rural entrepreneurship, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, has announced that more than 50 lavender distillation units have been installed across Jammu and Kashmir under the CSIR-Aroma Mission. This significant milestone comes ahead of the much-anticipated Third Lavender Festival, scheduled to be held on June 1 and 2, 2025, at the Government Degree College in Bhaderwah, District Doda.
The festival, organized by CSIR-IIIM, will be inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who also serves as the Vice President of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The inauguration will be attended by prominent dignitaries, including the Director General of CSIR, Directors of CSIR laboratories, industrialists, scientists, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and members of civil society from across the country.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM, stated that the installation of more than 50 distillation units has provided essential infrastructure for local-level processing of lavender crops. This initiative is a crucial part of the Aroma Mission’s broader objective to revive and strengthen India’s traditional aroma industry, particularly in rural and mountainous regions.
Dr. Ahmed emphasized that this year’s festival holds special significance as it celebrates not only the flourishing lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir but also its successful extension to other regions like Uttarakhand and several North-Eastern states. Under the CSIR-Aroma Mission, over 5,000 farmers and young entrepreneurs—many of them from remote and economically backward areas—have been engaged and trained. They have received free quality planting material (QPM) and comprehensive technological support that covers every stage from cultivation to processing, value addition, and marketing.
Bhaderwah, often referred to as the “Lavender Valley of India,” has become a model for the Aroma Mission’s success. Dr. Ahmed noted that farmers in Bhaderwah alone have sold QPM worth over ₹1 crore. In total, local cultivators have produced 1,500 kilograms of lavender oil and 93,000 kilograms of dried lavender flowers, which have been successfully marketed. The overall business turnover in the region has touched ₹10.5 crore, showcasing the mission’s robust socio-economic impact.
Beyond the economic benefits, the initiative has significantly contributed to women’s empowerment, with increasing numbers of women participating in lavender cultivation and associated entrepreneurial activities. Many farmers who were once engaged in traditional low-income agriculture have now transitioned to high-value aromatic crop cultivation, and some have even established their own agribusiness ventures.
The upcoming Lavender Festival aims to celebrate this transformative journey and further promote agro-based entrepreneurship, especially in the aromatic and medicinal plant sectors. The event will bring together farmers, scientists, researchers, startups, industrialists, and policy makers, offering a collaborative platform for exchange of ideas and innovation.
One of the festival’s major attractions will be the Agri-Startup Expo, which will showcase innovative technologies and value-added products derived from lavender and other aromatic crops. Participation is open to start-ups, early-stage entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders, providing them with exposure and potential investment opportunities.
Dr. Ahmed concluded by stating that the Lavender Festival is not just a celebration but a strategic platform that could serve as a catalyst for transforming the agro-economy of Jammu and Kashmir. The success of the Aroma Mission here has the potential to create a replicable model for rural development and economic self-reliance across other parts of the country.