As part of CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, a three day workshop on 'entrepreneurship opportunities in the cultivation, processing, post harvest management and marketing of aromatic crops' was started here at Field Station Bonera of CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine.The workshop has been started to impart the scientific and technical know-how and skill for the cultivation of different high value aromatic cash crops like Lavender, Rose, Clarysage, Rosemary and other industrial crops known for their economic value in flavour and fragrance industry to the 100 farmers/ women farmers.The District Development Commissioner DDC) Pulwama, Dr. Raghav Langer was the Chief Guest on the occasion.Addressing the participants, the DDC appreciated the initiative of CSIR-IIIM in promoting the cultivation and processing of these crops by organizing the on-farm skill development programme. He also emphasized on the importance of crop diversification through aromatic crop cultivation and integrating different farm enterprises for enhancement of the farmer income, livelihood generation and entrepreneurship development.He also visited the farm and inspected the facilities available for extraction and processing and was informed about the different activities being carried out at the farm.
He assured his full support for the overall development and rejuvenation the Field Station, Bonera.Earlier a detailed overview of the programme and its importance in the entrepreneurship and industrial development in the UT through production of different high value aromatic cash crops was given by Dr. Shahid Rasool, Senior Scientist and Incharge of the Field Station.He informed the participating farmers about the prospects of aromatic crop cultivation for self reliant India in the production of high value essential oils that are imported for value addition and product development.Khursheed Muzaffar, while speaking on the occasion informed about the hand holding opportunities for financing the cultivation and value addition of such crops by the prospective entrepreneurs.The technical lectures to the participating farmers on production, processing and value addition of different aromatic crops were given by Dr Qazi Parvaiz and Dr Phalisteen Sultan and on-farm demonstration to the participating farmers/ women farmers was given by Dr Padma Lay and Habibullah.The three day programme is being organized under the patronage of Dr. D.S Reddy, Director CSIR-IIIM, Jammu and under the supervision of Er. Abdul Rahim, Head, Planning Monitoring, Evaluation and Business Development and Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Head CSIR-IIIM (Br) Srinagar.Among others present on the occasion were Mr Khursheed Muzaffar, Lead District Manager, Pulwama, Dr Muzamil Ahmad, Dr Qazi Parvaiz, Dr Phalisteen Sultan, Dr Firdos Mir and Technologists from CSIR-IIIM.