LAVENDER FESTIVAL

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Context: India’s first 'Lavender Festival' was organised at Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir.

Details

• India’s first National Institute of High Altitude Medicine is being built in Bhaderwah.
• It will generate employment, open research opportunities and promote development for the region.
• Lavender Cultivation has the potential to double farmers' income.
• Lavender cultivation has employed about 5,000 farmers and young entrepreneurs in geographically remote areas of J&K.
  • More than 1,000 farming families are cultivating it on more than 200 acres.

Aroma Mission

• Aromatic plants are used as natural medicines because of their medical properties. Aromatic Plants include lavender, damask rose, etc.
• Aromatic plants are mainly used for oil extraction that is used in various industries: Cosmetics, Pesticides, flavouring and fragrance, Insect repellents and herbal beverages.
• The Aroma Mission was started to promote the cultivation of aromatic crops.
• The twin aim of the mission is to increase production to meet domestic demand and also to become a global leader in production and export.
• Technical support from CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow.
• Government to Promote cooperatives for marketing activities, promotion of cultivation and processing of high-value aromatic plants, development of agro technologies, setting up of processing facilities, promoting Skill development, infrastructure support, Credit facilities, etc.

The expected outcome of the Mission:

• Bring about an additional area of 5500 ha under aromatic crop cultivation.
• Promoting aromatic crops in rain-fed/degraded land across the country.
• Enhance technical and infrastructural support to farmers/growers all over the country.
• Promote market buy-back mechanisms to ensure profitable prices for the farmers/growers.
• This mission also aims to promote Job Creation, Rural Development, and Women empowerment.
• By increasing aromatic crop production, India could take a big step towards achieving the goal of ‘Atmanirbhara Bharat’.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1828547