Aroma Mission

Many farmers in Jammu and Kashmir have switched over to cultivation of lavender in order to get handsome returns. Central government has also helped the farmers with the scientific backing for such cultivations.

The purple mission promotes cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry.

In J&K, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu (IIIM Jammu) are the two bodies responsible for taking the Aroma Mission forward. The CSIR Aroma Mission is envisaged to bring transformative change in the aroma sector through desired interventions in the areas of agriculture, processing and product development for fuelling the growth of aroma industry and rural employment.

It is expected to enable Indian farmers and the aroma industry to become global leaders in the production and export of some other essential oils in the pattern of menthol mint.

According to the Lavender farmers, the selling of at least one litre of its oil fetches them Rs 10,000.

The farmers say that lavender grown over one hectare of land gives them a minimum of 40 litre of lavender oil.

Lavender water, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks. Hydrosol, which is formed after distillation from the flowers, is used to make soaps and room fresheners. An official of IIM-Jammu farmers get help from IIIM-Jammu to sell their produce. Many private companies also procure lavender extracts from the farmers.