Srinagar, Jul 16 (KNO): Over 1200 hectares of land have been brought under Aroma cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir as hundreds of farmers have switched to lavender cultivation.
A top official working with the CSIR-Aroma Mission in J&K told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that under the mission, CSIR-IIIM initiated a revolutionary journey aimed at providing an alternative to traditional crops and improving farmers' income.
He said that lavender, a well-known aromatic crop known for its fragrant flowers, essential oils and numerous uses, is one of the selected aromatic crops under the CSIR-Aroma Mission.
Lavender, renowned for its aromatic flowers and essential oils, has been introduced beyond its traditional confines in the Kashmir valley to temperate regions across Jammu division, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Ladakh.
The cultivation of lavender in Doda district of Jammu has emerged as a highly rewarding venture, often referred to as "The Purple Revolution". Encouraged by its success, lavender cultivation has extended to other districts such as Ramban (Gool, Batote, Banihal), Udhampur (Dandi, Drodhu, Kud, Sarar, Malothi), Kathua (Dharmahanpur), Poonch (Darhal), the official said.
He said the journey of lavender cultivation began through CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine's interventions, which included extensive awareness campaigns and training sessions for farmers on cultivation techniques and utilisation of lavender crops.
Under the CSIR-Aroma Mission, CSIR-IIIM has distributed over 45 lakh units of free, high-quality lavender planting material, facilitating its widespread adoption among farmers, he said, adding that this initiative has significantly boosted farmers' incomes, increasing from Rs 20,000 to over Rs 2,00,000 per acre.
Giving further details, the official said that during the first phase of the Aroma Mission, 164.92 hectares of land area were covered, with around 600 farmers adopting lavender cultivation.
"In the second phase of CSIR-Aroma Mission (2017-22), the cultivated area expanded to 910.71 hectares, attracting 2,500 more farmers. The third phase, which is currently ongoing, has already covered 317.11 hectares in its first year," he said.
With the initiative of CSIR-IIM, about 150 nurseries of lavender quality planting material worth Rs 80 lakhs have been generated. Switching from conventional crops to lavender cultivation has significantly increased farmers' net annual income from Rs 20,000 per acre to more than Rs 200,000 per acre, he added.
To enable farmers to distill the oil from the harvested crop of lavender, distillation units were installed in the clusters of villages, the official said, adding that installation of the distillation unit has been a very vital component of the CSIR-Aroma Mission, with a total of 61 distillation units been installed under the mission in both phases.
"It is the availability of such distillation facilities, which instills a sense of confidence amongst the farmers about ensuring returns from the cultivation of aromatic plants," he said, adding that the farmers in the Doda district alone have distilled 2,800 litres of lavender oil, earning more than Rs 5 crore between 2018 and 2022.
Additionally, out of 50 entrepreneurs generated under the CSIR-Aroma Mission so far, 30 are women, which is a significant accomplishment in itself, he added.
The success of lavender farming, particularly in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district, has been noteworthy, leading to improved living standards and creating employment opportunities, especially for women.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted CSIR-IIIM's efforts in supporting lavender cultivation during the 99th Edition of Mann ki Baat, underscoring its impact on the local economy. The achievements of lavender cultivation were also showcased during the Republic Day Parade in 2024, symbolising its transformative impact on the region's agricultural landscape—(KNO)