The project is envisaged to be implemented over an area of 250 hectares in three phases over the period of 3 years wherein the cultivation, processing and utilization of targeted/ selected aromatic crops will be done. The project will be jointly funded, executed and implemented by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu and J&K State Science Technology and Innovation Council, J&K. Around 75 hectares of land in phase-I would be brought under the intensive cultivation of Tagetus minuta and other targeted crops in different areas of district Kupwara in J&K State.

Kupwara is the backward frontier District of Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, full of scenic beauty located between 34.18 to 34.47 North Latitude and  73.45  to  74.3  East  Longitude.  Dense forests  and  rich  wild  life  make  it significant from tourism and wildlife point of view. The District Headquarter “Kupwara” is situated at a distance of 90 kms from the summer capital of State,i.e. Srinagar. The District is situated at an average altitude of 5300 feet from the sea level. The geographical area of the District is 2379 sq. km. The north west part of the District is bound by line of actual control (L.O.C)) while the southern portion is bound by the District Baramulla. District Kupwara Consists of 15 Tehsils that include Karnah, Keran, Kralpora, Machil, Trehgam, Kupwara, Drugmulla, Lalpora, Sogam, Handwara, Langate, Qaziabad Kralgund, Zachaldara, Villagam and Ramhall Tarathpora.

The farming community of the region is facing tough times to earn sufficient economic returns with traditional farming and cropping system. Resorting to the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal crops offers hope for enhancing the income of farmers despite global warming and climate change. The crops selected under this project are the natural aroma sources acceptable to the industry and have tremendous potential to give a quantum leap to the aroma business. Cultivation and processing of the crop based on CSIR technologies will provide a demonstration model for the farming community of the region. The project is expected to provide alternate crop to the farmers for adoption in their existing cropping systems for increased income generation and employment opportunities in rural farming sector besides developed of the business model for prospective entrepreneurs and supply source for aroma and industry. This  proposal  is  formulated  to  implement  all  over  the  State  in  the  phased manner, however it is proposed that in phase-I, phase- II and phase-III demonstration farms at Kupwara will be established over an area of about 5000 kanals (250 hectares) at different locations of tehsil Handwara, Drugmulla, Zachaldara, Tarathpora, Kralpora, Trehgam and Qaziabad.

1. Bringing about 5000 Kanals (250 ha) of hilly/ steep undulated and uncultivated area under cultivation of aromatic cash crops particularly targeting rain- fed/ degraded areas prone to soil erosion in district Kupwara.
2. Establishment of demonstration farms through cultivation and processing of region specific superior genotypes of different medicinal & aromatic plants developed and released by CSIR on higher scale in Kupwara.
3. Skill development, technology transfer and employment generation through effective extension and transfer of technologies developed by CSIR-IIIM of rural farmers, agri-business co-operatives, NGOs and entrepreneurs.To provide proven business model based on CSIR MACs technology for adoption by farmers.
4. Provide technical and infrastructural support for distillation and value- addition to farmers/growers.
5. Enabling effective buy-back mechanisms to assure remunerative prices to the farmers/growers.
6. Value-addition of essential oils and aroma ingredients for their integration in national and global trade and economy.

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