Aroma/lavender cultivation has become a popular option in farming for agricultural Start-up in J&K:

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Last Updated18/01/2022

While observing the first National Start-up Day, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that “Purple Revolution” is Jammu & Kashmir’s contribution to ""Start-ups India"", an initiative that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.

The Aroma Mission, also popularly referred to as ""Lavender or Purple Revolution"", has started from J&K and transformed the lives of farmers who are able to grow lavender, make a lucrative profit and improve their lives.
The Aroma Mission was launched by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology through the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
The CSIR had, to begin with, introduced high-value essential oil bearing lavender crop through its Jammu based laboratory, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicines (IIIM) for cultivation in districts Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, and later also in the other districts including Ramban, Pulwama, etc.

To promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry.
To enable Indian farmers and the aroma industry to become global leaders in the production and export of some other essential oils on the pattern of menthol mint.
To provide substantial benefits to the farmers in achieving higher profits, utilization of waste lands, and protection of their crops from wild and grazing animals.

The nodal laboratory is CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow.
The participating laboratories are CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu etc.

The scientific interventions made under the mission project provided assured benefits to the growers of Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and other states where farmers are exposed to frequent episodes of weather extremes and account for maximum suicides.
Aromatic Plants include lavender, damask rose, mushk bala, etc.

CSIR-IIIM-Jammu announced Aroma Mission Phase-II in February 2021 after the success of the first phase.
It focuses on setting up of cooperatives for marketing, promotion of cultivation and processing of high value medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), development of superior varieties and their agro technologies, setting up of distillation units and processing facilities, skill and entrepreneurship development, value-addition and product development from MAPs.

Apart from being in sync with government policy of doubling farm incomes by 2022, the mission also provided employment to the women farmers thus giving impetus to inclusive growth.