A five -day workshop on value addition of floricultural crops for skill development and entrepreneurship under CSIR Floriculture Mission started at CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (Br) Srinagar today.The workshop is being conducted under the patronage of Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR IIIM Jammu and Er Ab Rahim, Head, CSIR IIIM, Srinagar. 75 participants including women self help groups from districts of Pulwama, Budgam, Srinagar, progressive growers and agri-technocrats are participating in the workshop who will be provided technical skill and training in various facets of the value addition technologies for floricultural crops like dry flower technology, floral resin art, floral printing and flower arrangements.

Present at the inagural function were Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR IIIM, Jammu who was the chief guest, Sh Mahmood Shah, Director, Handicrafts and Handlooms, Kashmir, Prof. Imtiyaz Nazki, Head Floriculture SKUAST-K, Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist CSIR Floriculture Mission, Scientific and Technological staff of the Institute.While complimenting the accomplishments made in CSIR Floriculture Mission, Chief Guest at the event Dr. Zabeer Ahmed shared that the vision for such workshops was to empower individuals and equip them with the knowledge and skills to add value to their floral products. This would encourage the establishment of new businesses and ventures within the floriculture industry. Over the course of next few days, the workshop aims to equip the participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to understand the market trends, identify opportunities, and implement strategies for value addition in the floriculture industry.

Guest of Honour at the event, Sh Mahmood Ahmad Shah in his address highlighted the importance of imparting skill and capacity building in the context of growing consumer conciousness for using naturals in various value-added forms. Highlighting the role of women in entrepreneurship ecosystem, he informed that value addition of flowers can create a unique niche in the sector that is led by women.In his technical address Prof. Imtiyaz Nazki stated that the role of value addition as a holistic approach encompasses economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and cultural enrichment and the workshop will in long way help in amplifying the opportunities in floriculture sector. While speaking at the event Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist of the Mission, apprised the particpants  that CSIR Floriculture Mission is one of the multiple farmer and agri-oriented initiatives launched by Ministry of Science and Technology under CSIR for upliftment of the farmers through technology driven production and processing of crops. He elucidated that the impact of CSIR Floriculture Mission in enhancing economic status of the farmers of J&K from last two years has been substantial and has resulted in the import substitution of the flowers mostly used in huge quantities for religious and other ornamental purposes. He further informed that under the Vertical “Post Harvest Technologies and Value Addition” of the Mission, the workshop has been organised to equip the individuals with necessary skill set in value addition of flowers for becoming successful entrepreneurs in the floricultural industry aligning with the idea of development of agritech start ups.Technical presentations were also given by Dr Iqra Farooq and Er. Maliqa Majid. Earlier in the event, Dr Nasheeman Ashraf, Principal Scientist, CSIR-IIIM while presenting the welcome address to the dignitaries and the particpants informed about the importance of the workshop for imparting skill and technical guidance in the sector.She emphasized about the role of such skill oriented programmes in empowering women to become successful entrepreneurs.  Proceedings of the event were conducted by Dr Iqra Farooq and Dr Khurshid Ahmad Bhat, presented the vote of thanks.