Srinagar, January 12: The Division of Forest Products and Utilization (FPU), Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-Kashmir, Benhama, inaugurated a one-week Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Training Programme (ESDP) on “Nursery Production of High-Value Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.” The programme will run from January 12 to January 17, 2026.
The inaugural function, held at the Faculty of Forestry, Benhama, was presided over by Prof. A. H. Mughal, Dean, Faculty of Forestry, SKUAST-Kashmir, who attended as the chief guest. Addressing the participants, Prof. Mughal highlighted the significant potential of medicinal and aromatic plants in enhancing rural livelihoods, promoting entrepreneurship, and strengthening the medicinal agro-forestry sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prof. P. A. Sofi, Professor and Head, Division of FPU, delivered the welcome address and stressed the importance of skill-based capacity building to effectively harness the region’s rich biodiversity and convert it into sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Programme Coordinator Dr. Mehraj U Din Dar, Assistant Professor, Division of FPU, provided an overview of the training programme. He underlined the growing importance of the medicinal and aromatic plants sector and emphasized scientific nursery techniques, propagation methods, quality planting material production, and entrepreneurial skills required to establish sustainable ventures in the sector.
The inaugural session also featured remarks by Mr. Nausheen Mukhtar from the Faculty of Management and Entrepreneurship, JKEDI Ganderbal, and Dr. Mohammed Tariq, Senior Manager and Lead Scientist at Transformative Ventures Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. Both speakers shared insights on enterprise development, market linkages, and value addition in medicinal and aromatic plants.
On the occasion, the programme coordinator expressed gratitude to the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, for providing financial support for the initiative. Appreciation was also extended to Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, Prof. Haroon Rashid Naik, Director Planning and Monitoring, and Prof. Arshid Hussain Mughal, Dean, Faculty of Forestry, for their guidance and administrative support.
The programme has drawn participation from selected trainees across the Kashmir Valley and will include expert lectures, hands-on practical sessions, demonstrations, and field-based exposure aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among youth and aspiring agri-preneurs. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Amerjeet Singh, Assistant Professor, Division of FPU, Faculty of Forestry.
