 Early Times Report
PULWAMA, July 4: In a vibrant celebration of science-led agricultural transformation, Director of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, formally inaugurated the annual lavender harvest at the Institute's Field Station in Bonera, Pulwama. The vast expanse of blooming purple fields marked the beginning of the 2026 harvesting season and showcased one of India's most successful models of technology-driven cultivation of high-value medicinal and aromatic plants in the Himalayan region.
Over the years, CSIR-IIIM Field Station Bonera has emerged as the premier centre for research, technology validation, demonstration and large-scale dissemination of elite medicinal and aromatic plants suited to the agro-climatic conditions of Jammu & Kashmir. The station has become a vibrant nucleus for innovation in MAPs including Lavender, Rosemary, Clarysage, Damask Rose, Mint, Artemisia, Salvia, Saffron, Olive, Wild Marigold, Tulips, Chrysanthemum, Marigold, Lilium, temperate floricultural and economically important crops, fostering an integrated ecosystem encompassing quality planting material production, advanced agronomic practices, post-harvest technologies, essential oil distillation, value addition and entrepreneurship development.
Addressing scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders during the gala harvesting event, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM remarked, "The Field Station at Bonera exemplifies the transformative power of science when seamlessly integrated with rural livelihoods. Our vision extends beyond crop cultivation; we are creating a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that encompasses research, technology development, quality planting material, entrepreneurship, industrial linkages and sustainable value chains. Under the visionary guidance of Dr Jitendra Singh, Hon'ble Union Minister Science and Technology and Vice President CSIR, GOI, the remarkable success of lavender and other medicinal and aromatic crops promoted under CSIR Aroma Mission has positioned Jammu and Kashmir as a national leader in the bioeconomy driven by natural products.
He added that the lavender harvest symbolises far more than a seasonal agricultural activity-it epitomizes the remarkable journey of scientific interventions translating into tangible socio-economic prosperity. Through sustained research, precision agronomy and extensive field demonstrations, CSIR-IIIM has empowered more than 5000 farmers to diversify from conventional cropping systems towards climate-resilient, high-return medicinal and aromatic crops. The institute has successfully developed standardized cultivation protocols, elite planting material and efficient distillation technologies that have substantially enhanced productivity, oil quality and farm profitability. |
