Income of those who entered aromatic crop cultivation increased: Dr Jitendra

Jammu, Jan 28: 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, on Sunday said those who have entered the aromatic crop cultivation have increased their livelihood income to many folds.
“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,” he said at a function here.
As part of CSIR Aroma Mission Phase-III, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu organized a Kisan Samelan in R C Farm, Hiranagr, Kathua, here in which Dr Jitendra was the chief guest. Mahan Singh, DDC Chairman, Kathua, Shri Raghunandan Singh Vice Chairman, DDC Kathua, Karan Attri, DDC member and ADDC Ankur Mahajan were also present.
More than 700 farmers from various villages of Hiranagar Tehsil of Kathua attended the daylong Kissan Sammelan.
On the occasion, the union minister distributed the quality planting material of aroma crops viz lemon grass among the farmers of the area
Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM expressed gratitude to the union minister for gracing the occasion and appealed to the farmers to take full benefit of the CSIR-Aroma Mission through which a strong connect between farmers and scientists has been made.
The Director, IIIM Jammu, not only highlighted the institute’s significant contributions to scientific research and innovation but especially mentioned the societal work carried out by the institute by carrying forward two Mission projects ‘Floriculture Mission’ and ‘Aroma Mission’ which have been largely benefited the farmers and locals.
Pertinently, the Kissan Sammalen was organised to make the farmers aware of the activities envisaged under the CSIR-Aroma Mission. Director, IIIM coordinated the successful conduct of the Kisan Sammelan where farmers from remote areas of Gujjar Chak, Sapalwan, Pansar, Haria Chak, Chanlaldin, Chabbay Chak, Khanpur, Parkhwal, Sitra Chak, Chhapaki, Chandatyal, Boiya, Mehsa Chak, devo Chak, Mandyal, Kotepunnu, Marheen, and Dhanni-Bera 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.
Dr Suphla Gupta, Nodal Scientist from CSIR-IIIM for CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III, Dr Saurbah Saran, I/C Technology Business Incubator and other teams of Scientists of Aroma Mission including Dr Sabha Jeet, Dr Rajinder Bhanweria, Dr V.P. Rahul, Akash Verma and Ankush Varma were in team which organised this event.