BHADERWAH JUNE 13: Two-day Lavender Fest-2024 today commenced at the Bhaderwah Campus, University of Jammu in Doda.
Organized under the theme “Lavender Blooms, Business Blooms: Where Aroma Meets Ambition,” the festival celebrates the vibrant lavender cultivation in the region.
The event was inaugurated by Dhananter Singh Kotwal, Chairman of District Development Council Doda, with the traditional lighting of the lamp.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Harvinder Singh, Managing Director JKTPO Khalid Jahangir, and Rector Bhaderwah Campus, J.P Singh Jarul were also present, emphasizing the significance of lavender cultivation to the local economy and the community.
The festival, organized by Kulraj Singh, Joint Director Handloom, Jammu, and Incharge GM, JKTPO, showcased a variety of stalls from different departments, including NRLM, displaying their achievements.
In his address, Khalid Jahangir highlighted the goal of hosting a world conference on lavender and noted Bhaderwah’s prominence in the country and the world for its “purple revolution.” He also mentioned the organic certification of local products such as walnuts, selie honey, and saffron.
The Deputy Commissioner lauded the hard work of progressive lavender farmers like Touqeer Bhagwan and Bharat Bhushan and emphasized promoting local indigenous species and connecting buyers with sellers.
On the occasion, the stalls from various departments and self-help groups were inspected by the dignitaries.
The event was also attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaderwah Sunil Kumar, CEO BDA Bal Krishan, district officers, self-help group members, progressive farmers, students, and the public.
Bhaderwah also known as Chota Kashmir has emerged as the lavender capital of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 99th Edition of Mann ki Baat, appreciated the efforts of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) in supporting farmers in the cultivation of Lavender in Bhaderwah Aroma Mission.
CSIR-Aroma Mission is a flagship project of CSIR under which Lavender cultivation is being promoted in the temperate regions of J&K. The aim of the project is to increase the income of small and marginal farmers and develop agriculture-based Startups. The project is being directly monitored by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Science & Technology. Under his directions, CSIR-IIIM is implementing Lavender cultivation in Bhaderwah and other parts of J&K.
Due to the intervention of CSIR-IIIM, a new industry around Lavender cultivation has developed in the region. More than 2500 farmers are cultivating Lavender in different parts of J&K. Women are primarily employed in the Lavender fields for harvesting and processing the flower, which has increased women’s income in the region.
Many young entrepreneurs have started small-scale businesses through the value addition of Lavender oil, hydrosol, and flowers. CSIR-IIIM conducted many skills development programs and trained more than 2500 farmers and young entrepreneurs from J&K on Lavender cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing.
