Nagpur: The Institute of Himalyan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, has initiated a new project for cultivation and promotion of high-value aromatic and floriculture plants in Ladakh, which is a cold desert area in the country.
Affiliate Board for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), IHBT signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the industry and the Ladakh trade department in May for Clary’s wise cultivation and promotion, wild march, Mint, Mint, Dracocephalum and Artemisia spp.
Lilium floriculture plants, tulips and gladiolus, which are suitable for Ladakh’s climate conditions, will also grow there.
CSIR-IHBT Director Sanjay Kumar said the Institute had provided quality planting material from this plant to Ladakh farmers in the relationship with the industry and the Ministry of Commerce, under the aroma phase II mission project.
A team of four members of the CSIR-IHBT scientists visited the Leh and Nubra regions from 7 to 11 August and held interactions with farmers and officials from various departments and NGOs in the desert area of ​​the cold.
The team conducted a conscious program, met with industrial officials and the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, progressive farmers, employers and Ladakh NGOs.
The aroma of Mission Co-Nodal Officer Rakesh Kumar said that aromatic plants are widely cultivated throughout the world because of their high income essential oils, which are used in the agrochemical industry, food, flavor, perfidity and pharmaceutical.
“The demand for the global essential oil market was 226.9 kilotons in 2018, and the size of the global essential oil market was assessed as USD 10.3 billion in 2021.
It is expected to reach a value of USD 16.0 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) 9.3% during the estimated period, “Kumar said.
“CSIR covers an area of ​​550 hectares (ha) under the aroma I mission phase from July 2017 to March 2020.
After the success of the aroma mission, CSIR-IHBT is now another part of the aroma of phase II mission and is committed to carrying 3,000 ha of India,” said The officer, added that it would help in the generation of entrepreneurship and improving the socio-economic farmers, including those in the Ladakh region.
The cum-training awareness program was carried out on agro management technology and post harvest of aromatic and floriculture plants in Leh on August 7, in conjunction with NGO Ladakh Organic Farmers Foundation Society.
More than 70 unemployed tribal and adolescent women farmers from Leh and Nubra Valley participated in the event.
Senior scientist Mohit Sharma said CSIR-IHBT will install the processing unit under the aroma -ii mission phase in Nubra Valley.
Dr.
Bhavya Bhargava, Nodal Scientist CSIR-Floriculture mission at IHBT, said the Ladakh area is perfect for round flower plants.
“The flowers produced here are outside the season for the Indian market, so farmers can produce more,” he said.
The aroma of success with the Department of Industry and Trade Ladakh, CSIR-IHBT provides Lilium lights in seven Leh villages (Ranbirpur, Stakna, Tukcha) and Cargil (Cargil, Sankue and Kurbathang) This area is suitable for the production of Lilium bulbs, Tulips which are currently imported from the country other and flower production outside the IHBT season signed the MoU with the industry and the Ladakh trading department in May for the cultivation and promotion of Csir’s aromatic and floriculture plants covering the 550 ha area below July 2017 for March 2020 under the Aroma Mission Phase II, CSIR-IHBT plans to cover 3,000 other Ha Pan-India including the Ladakh area