By King RJ
Bhaderwah: With an aim to encourage farmers in value addition of Lavender and how sustain & extend the achievements, CSIR-IIIM
Jammu organized a one-day Scientist-Farmer interaction program under
the CSIR Aroma Mission Phase III in the lal ded Auditorium of Bhaderwah Campus, Jammu University.
The event was organised by CSIR-IIIM Jammu under the supervision of Senior Principal Scientist CSIR-IIIM Jammu Dr Suphla Gupta, who is also Nodal Scientist Aroma Mission III.
On the occasion, ASP Bhaderwah Vinod Sharma was the cheif guest, while renowned industrialist Abdul Gaffar Bagban was the special invitee. Young entrepreneur Touqeer Bagban was also present in the programme.
The Scientist and Farmers meet under Union Government’s Aroma Mission 3 in which 150 farmers, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts from Bharderwah, Panchari,
Latti, Tikri and adjoining areas participated where climate for lavender cultivation is conducive.
They were imparted with basic technical know-how to grow aromatic plants scientifically, beside a series of motivational lectures by the subject matter specialists and successful farmers was also held.
The interaction highlighted the achievements and hard work of the farmers of Bhaderwah.
Dr Suphla Gupta Nodal Scientist Aroma Mission III said that the program was aimed at to highlight the achievements of farmers of Bhaderwah in the Aroma Mission Phases I & ll and the way forward to sustain and extend the achievements.
During the interaction, the mandate of the Aroma Mission phase III was discussed by Dr.Suphla Gupta, Nodal Scientist, CSIR Aroma Mission and motivated farmers to move a step further for value addition of the lavender oil under phase III of the CSR-Aroma Mission.
She emphasized on the need of self sustainability and diversification in uses of Lavender cultivation.
“The one-day program also include initiatives under Aroma Mission Phase III, a demonstration of extraction technology and interaction with farmers,” Dr Suphla added.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu in his message to the farmers of Bhaderwah assured continuous support to the lavender growers and urged them to venture into value addition of the high quality lavender oil being produced in Bhaderwahı.
ASP Bhaderwah Vinod Sharma in his address welcomed the initiative being taken under the mission for the benefit of the farmers, especially women and young entrepreneurs.
Dr. Sukhbir Singh, subject matter specialist, Area Development Officer, Agriculture Department, District Udhampur who was leading the team of 20 progressive farmers from Lati and Panchari of Udhampur appreciated the work being done.
Progressive farmers from Bhaderwah Abdul Gaffar Bagban, Bharat Bhushan, Tauqeer Bagban, Kunj Lal, Monica Devi and Tariq Bhatt also expressed their views and shared their experiences on levender cultivation.
Meanwhile twenty progressive farmers from Udhampur also visited Bhaderwah to participate in the programme.
The team also visited farmers field where lavender is being cultivated, and lavender nurseries have been developed along with established distillation units.
They see the hard work and accomplishments of farmers of the region in making Bhaderwah as capital of Lavender in India.
The program was conducted by Bushan Kumar who was instrumental in conducting and managing, the program along with CSIR Aroma Mission team members Dr. Kanwaljeet Singh, Dr. Sandeep Charak and Dr. Jyotsna Sharma.
The program was concluded by Dr.Kanwaljeet Singh who thanked each member who contributed to the success of the event including the press and media person covering the event since the start of the event.
