Srinagar, Nov 16: As part of CSIR-Aroma Mission -II, under its work package of crop extension, one day awareness cum demonstration programme on cultivation, processing and marketing of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAPs) was organized at Srinagar Branch of CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu. Mohammed Iqbal Choudhary, Director Agriculture, Kashmir was chief guest on the occasion and Prof. Sajad Ahmad Gangoo, Head, Department of Forest Products & Utilization, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST (K), Prof. Sheikh Bilal Regional Director, RCFC North-II, Dr. Muzamil Ahmad, Deputy Head, CSIR-IIIM (Br.) Srinagar, Dr. Pervaiz A Qazi, Co-Nodal, Aroma Mission and Dr. Shahid Rasool, Senior Scientist were also present. More than 130 Farmers, growers, agri-entrepreneurs from all districts of Kashmir Province attended the event.
Dr. Shakir P Sultan while welcoming the guests, gave module of the programme and also the requirement of conducting such awareness programmes for the farmers. He spelled out model envisaged under Aroma Mission for many high value aromatic plants Like Lavender, Rose cultivated on large scale in different parts of the country and J&K with a aim to increase farmers income.
In the inaugural session, Mohammad Iqbal Choudhary, the chief guest while addressing the gathering highlighted importance of medicinal and aromatic plant sector for income and revenue generation of farmers and efforts needed to boost this sector by integrating all concerned agencies like universities, colleges, allied department like Agriculture and Floriculture for making this sector more promising and profitable. He also complimented the efforts of Aroma Mission Team of CSIR-IIIM (Br.) Srinagar in promoting cultivation and processing technologies of medicinal and aromatic plants. He also underscored the need of such more programmes in future for awareness of public towards this sector.
Prof. Sajad Ahmad Gangoo Head, Department of Forest Products & Utilization, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST (K) gave a presentation on “20 medicinal plants for home gardens of Kashmir to cure common ailments” and discussed about opportunities in cultivation and processing of Medicinal and Aromatic plants.
Prof. Sheikh Bilal is his guest lecture dealt with the kind of opportunities MAPs cultivation for crop diversification that can have direct bearing on the livelihood and economic prospects . Prof. Sheikh Bilal also stressed that all stakeholders should come forward and promote this sector in a cohesive manner.
Dr. Qazi Parvaiz Hassan, Co–Nodal, CSIR Aroma Mission-II gave a detailed presentation highlighting prospects & scope of Aroma industry in J&K and also gave an overview of CSIR Aroma mission and its importance for cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants for better returns and income generation.
Dr. Shahid Rasool, Senior Scientist & Incharge, Field station, Bonera, Pulwama, gave a presentation on the scope of industrially important Medicinal and Aromatic crops in securing livelihood of mountain farmers and entrepreneurship development. Dr. Shahid highlighted the role of CSIR IIIM in the development and deployment of production and processing technologies for income enhancement of farmers and gainful generation of livelihood through production and trade of different medicinal and aromatic crops in J&K through multiple Mission programmes and societal projects.
The event was held under the patronage of Director, Dr. D.S Reddy and overall supervision of Head of CSIR-IIIM(Br.) Dr. Zabeer Ahmed.
Dr. Shakir P Sultan conducted the proceedings of inaugural session while as Dr. Padma Lay presented the formal vote of thanks.
Later in the day, during technical session, the participants were taken on visit to field of the Institutes where the demonstration were given by the subject matter experts for processes involved in the cultivation, processing and value additions of MAPs.
