New Delhi, May 27 (India Science Wire): The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; Minister of State PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh released purple air balloons and signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under CSIR-Aroma Mission, on the second day of the Lavender festival at Higher Secondary School ground,
Bhaderwah.
Addressing a large gathering, The Union Minister said, ‘The Aroma Mission, under which this purple revolution (Lavender cultivation) has heralded in Bhaderwah, would help ease the regional imbalances in socio-economic development and double the farmer’s income, as promised by our prime minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’. He added that the Lavender revolution was an excellent example of Startup Mission where entrepreneurs and farmers are coming together and creating livelihood opportunities not only for themselves but also for others.
The Union Minister also virtually inaugurated six distillation units at six different places in the Bhaderwah block. The farmers and entrepreneurs engaged with Lavender cultivation and production were felicitated during the event. Dr Jitendra Singh later paid a visit to the Lavender
nursery and fields at Drudhu village.
Dr. D. S Reddy, Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu, Dhanater Singh, DDC Chairperson, Doda, Sangeeta Bhagat, Vice-Chairperson DDC, Doda, Shakti Raj Parihar, former Minister and MLA, Dr. Sumit Garola, Nodal Scientist CSIR besides scientists and potential farmers cultivating Lavender were present on the occasion.
In his welcome address Dr D.S.Reddy, Director, IIIM, Jammu, said that the credit for the whole concept of Purple Revolution goes to the Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who conceptualized the idea of this revolution in the region. He said that the main objective behind organizing the
festival was to celebrate the success of Lavender revolution in beautiful Bhaderwah valley.
Dr Sumit Gairola, Nodal Scientist, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, apprised the audience of ongoing research and work to further grow and expand the Aroma Mission. He mentioned that 99% of the lavender products in India are imported from other countries, and the purple revolution in this
region will help alleviate dependency on imports.
Shri Dileep Parihar, former MLA-Doda; Shri Shakti Raj Parihar, former minister J&K Govt.; Shri Dhananter Singh, Chairman DDC-Doda also spoke on the occasion. CSIR-IIIM,Jammu, under the aegis of Aroma Mission, provided free quality planting material (QPM) and end-to-end technology package on cultivation, processing, value addition and marketing of the Lavender crop to the farmers of Doda, Rama, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kupwara and Bandipora districts in Jammu & Kashmir. Lavender cultivation employs about 5000 farmers and young entrepreneurs in the geographically remote areas of J&K, while more than 1000 farming families in the J&K are currently cultivating Lavender on more than 200 acres. (India Science Wire)
