Jammu, Oct 11: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine in Jammu organised an awareness, training, and seed distribution programme under the CSIR Floriculture Mission. The event, held at the SMVD Shrine Board Auditorium, was coordinated with the Agriculture Production Department of Udhampur and Reasi. Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR IIIM Jammu, presided over the program, which saw active participation from more than 330 farmers and women self-help groups associated with NRLM from various districts.
The participants were provided with high-quality planting material, enhancing their potential for floriculture farming. The event was graced by prominent figures, including Saraf Singh Nag, Chairman District Development Council, Reasi; Babila Rakwal, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi; Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist of CSIR Floriculture Mission; Tejinder Singh Wazir, Member of J&K Kisan Advisory Board; Harbans Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Reasi, and officials from the Department of Agriculture, Floriculture, and SKUAST Jammu.
Dr Shahid Rasool welcomed the participants, providing an overview of the initiatives conducted under the CSIR Floriculture Mission in the Union Territory. He highlighted the farmer-oriented projects initiated by CSIR under the Ministry of Science and Technology, focusing on empowering farmers and inclusive development in the agricultural sector.
Saraf Singh Nag, the Chief Guest, emphasised the vast potential for commercial farming and skill-based agri-entrepreneurship in Reasi district. He praised CSIR IIIM Jammu for its efforts in increasing farmers’ income and generating livelihoods through the cultivation of commercial floricultural crops. He expressed his gratitude to Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister for Science and Technology, for his support in such initiatives.
Dr Zabeer Ahmed underscored the achievements of CSIR IIIM’s societal programs, highlighting the significant impact of missions like Aroma Mission and Floriculture Mission on the region’s farmers. He emphasised the institute’s focus on optimal land utilisation through the cultivation of market-driven cash crops and secondary processing of farm wastes for value addition.
Guest of honour, Babila Rakwal, praised the CSIR Floriculture Mission’s outreach in the hilly district of Reasi. She highlighted the potential of floriculture farming to enhance income and create employment opportunities, especially due to the significant footfall of pilgrims for religious tourism. Rakwal stressed on women’s empowerment through skill-based training for developing value-added floral products.
Sardar Tejinder Singh Wazir, a prominent floriculturist, commended the Mission’s efforts in fostering farmer prosperity through floriculture farming. He urged authorities to allow the utilisation of loose flowers for offerings at prominent temples, including Mata Vaishno Devi Temple and other shrines across the Reasi district.
The programme included a technical session where experts delivered detailed presentations on scientific cultivation, disease and pest management of marigolds and other floricultural crops, as well as information on banking schemes in agriculture. The event aimed to empower farmers with knowledge and resources, contributing to the flourishing floriculture sector in the region.
