Training prog on cultivation, marketing of Aromatic plants held at B’pora

Bandipora :The CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) on Thursday organised a day-long Awareness-cum-Training program on cultivation, processing and marketing of aromatic plants.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Ahmad Mir inaugurated the programme and interacted with the farmers. He appreciated the efforts of CSIR IIIM with special mention of Director, CSIR – IIIM, Dr. D. Srinivasa Reddy for conducting such training programmes to develop skill and interest among poor farming communities.
He urged the farmers to take advantage of such training programmes to improve and polish their skills so that they can produce more crops with less but focused efforts.
More than 250 farmers, entrepreneurs, students and other stakeholders attended the programme. The programme was held in two main sessions, Inaugural and Technical session followed by interaction with local marginal farmers, other growers and young unemployed youth.
On the occasion the farmers interacted with the scientists and learned various techniques regarding processing, cultivation and marketing of aromatic plants besides other things.
Dr. Shakir P. Sultan apprised the participants about the objectives and focus of the event. Dr. Muzamil Ahmad gave an overview of CSIR – IIIM mandate and activities and highlighted the role of IIIM towards Research and development activities under the Aromatic plants sector.
Dr. Qazi Parvaiz Hassan, Co-Nodal Officer, Aroma Mission II, gave a detailed overview of CSIR Aroma mission and its importance for cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants for better returns and income generation.
Dr. Qazi while conveying the message of the Director CSIR – IIIM informed local farmers, growers, and entrepreneurs to actively participate in such programs for skill development towards large scale cultivation of these high value cash crops as an alternative source to boost their income and employment generation.
Chief Agriculture Officer, Bandipora, Rafiq Ahmad Kukru also informed the audience about the importance of Medicinal and Aromatic plant cultivation and its scope in revenue and income generation.
Tareq Habib, District Floriculture Officer, Subject expert spoke at length about the medicinal and Aromatic plant cultivation and role in local economy and farmers income. He requested the farmers to take advantage of the support provided by CSIR IIIM for cultivation of these crops.