Jammu, 14.01.2024: As part of CSIR Aroma Mission Phase-III, CSIR-Indian Institute of
Integrative Medicine, Jammu organized a Kissan Samelan in Town Hall Ramnagar,
Udhampur, here today in which Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent
Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic
Energy and Space and Vice President CSIR was Chief Guest and Lal Chand, DDC Chairman,
Udhampur, Mool Raj, DDC member-1 Ramnagar and J. R. Bhardwaj, DDC-2 Ramnagar
were present among many others. More than 600 farmers from various villages of
Ramnagar Tehsil of Udhampur attended this day long Kissan Sammelan.
On the occasion, Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh distributed the quality planting material
of Aroma crops viz. Lavender and Lemon grass among the farmers of the area. Addressing
the farmers of Ramnagar and adjoining area, the minister said that those who have entered
the lavender sector are making a fortune out of it. But we need to give a wider publicity
and awareness among all stakeholders about these new opportunities of livelihood rolled
out in recent years is required. Dr. Jitendra Singh also appreciated the efforts of Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for enhancing the income of farmers through
CSIR-Aroma Mission which also gave birth to the Purple Revolution, which he mentioned in
other words as bengani kraanti started from Bhaderwah and now got spread to North east,
Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM expressed gratitude to Union Minister for gracing
the occasion and also appealed the farmers to take full benefits of the CSIR-Aroma Mission
through which a strong connect between farmers and scientists have been made. He
informed that during Phase-I and II of CSIR Aroma Mission, the extension activities of
Aroma Crops have been done in the region which proved a great success and now under
Phase-III of CSIR-Aroma Mission, not only the extension of crops is continued but the focus
has also been put on products development, startup and innovation promotion.
Pertinently, the Kissan Sammalen was organised in order to make the farmers aware about
the activities envisaged under CSIR-Aroma Mission. Director, IIIM coordinated the
successful conduct of the Kisan Sammelan where farmers from remote areas of Kaghote,
Jandaua, Thallian, Chigla Balata, Pangroin Nagrota, Jandarp thanta, Kathil Ganju, Badhole,
Rang Blandth, Dehari, Satyan, Dhanu and Marta participated in Kisan Sammelan in large
numbers which was primarily organized to create awareness of the aromatic crops. The
distribution of Quality Planting Materials aims to sensitize farmers of the region about the
versatile and high-value aromatic crops. The Lavender and Lemongrass varieties developed
by the CSIR-IIIM offer immense potential for income generation and diversification of
agricultural activities in the region.
Dr. Suphla Gupta, Nodal Scientist from CSIR-IIIM for CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III, Dr.
Saurbah Saran, I/C Technology Business Incubator and other team of Scientists of Aroma
Mission including Dr. Sabha Jeet, Dr. Rajinder Bhanweria, Akash Verma and Ankush Verma
were in team which organised this event.
This program also marked a significant milestone in the mission’s journey toward a
sustainable and economically vibrant Udhampur district.
