CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) Jammu, as part of its One Week One Lab (OWOL) campaign, successfully organized a “Young Researcher Meet (YRM)” event at its main campus at Jammu and “Awareness Programme for Farmers” at its Chatha Experimental Farm, Jammu. Both events commenced with an introduction to the OWOL Programme, highlighting its conceptualization by 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. Young Researcher Meet witnessed the participation of over 100 aspiring researchers from various Universities. A poster session followed by a brainstorming discussion on cutting-edge research was conducted where scholars from CSIR-IIIM and visitors discussed the latest research and experimental outcomes. The scholars provided live demonstrations of research and analytical facilities, showcasing laboratory techniques unique to the institute.

This was followed by an interactive session where participants engaged with the Scientists from CSIR-IIIM, Jammu. The participants greatly benefited from their insightful discussions. The YRM event was coordinated by Dr Love Sharma and Dr Mir Asrar from RMBD&IST Division.

More than 300 farmers from Rajouri, Jammu, Kathua, Samba, and Udhampur districts attended the Awareness program for farmers at Chatha farm organized under CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III. During this day-long programme, they were apprised of the cultivation, processing, value addition, product development and marketing of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs).

Farmers appreciated the efforts of IIIM and showed their enthusiasm to associate with the programme. Many scientists, technical officers and scholars of the Plant Sciences & Agrotechnology Division were also present. Chief Guest of the Programme Dr Sushil Kumar Gupta, Registrar and Dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry, SKUAST, Jammu urged participants to take full benefit of the programme and adopt cash crops like MAPs. He suggested that the synergy between CSIR-IIIM, SKUAST and Agriculture Department will bring good fortunes to the farmers. Guest of Honour K.K. Sharma, Director of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Jammu apprised about various welfare schemes of the department and appreciated the effort of CSIR-IIIM under Aroma Mission.

Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, IIIM Jammu while speaking on the occasion said that after the remarkable success of CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-I and II, CSIR has launched Phase-III of this mission project which would focus to establish clusters where end-to-end solutions would be provided to farmers for value addition, product development for inclusive economic development of the farmers of the region and the promotion of the agri-tech startup ecosystem. He also assured farmers that CSIR-IIIM will provide all support possible under the CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III for the development of Aroma farming and industry in the region.