Rural Development through Lavender Cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir under CSIR – AROMA MISSION

Over many decades of scientific interventions, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu (CSIR-IIIM) has developed elite variety (RRL-12) and agrotechnology of Lavender. The variety of Lavender is highly suitable for cultivation in the rain fed regions of the temperate area of India, including Kashmir valley and temperate regions of the Jammu division. Under CSIR-Aroma Mission, CSIR-IIIM Jam mu introduced Lavender to the farmers of different districts of J&K. Under CSIR Aroma Mission, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu 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. To support farmers in processing their produce, CSIR-IIIM installed fifty five distillation units (50 fixed and five mobile) at different locations across J&K under CSIR-Aroma Mission.

An intervention of CSIR-IIIM under the CSIR-Aroma Mission

Lavender cultivation has employed large numbers of farmers and young entrepreneurs (>5,000) in the geographically remote regions of J&K.
2. New industry around Lavender cultivation has developed in the region.
3. More than 2500 farming families in the J&K are currently cultivating Lavender on more than 500 acres in different parts of J&K.
4. Women Empowerment: This has increased the income of women in the region.
5. Many young entrepreneurs have started small-scale businesses through the value addition of Lavender Oil, hydrosol, and flowers.

CSIR-IIIM conducted many skill development programs under CSIR­Aroma Mission and trained more than 2500 farmers and young entrepreneurs from J&K on the cultivation, processing, value-addition & marketing of Lavender & other aromatic crops.