JAMMU: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Friday chaired a high-level inter-departmental meeting with the Forest and Agriculture Production Departments, along with CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Jammu, to chart out a holistic strategy for commercial cultivation and large-scale promotion of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) across Jammu and Kashmir.
While reviewing the sector’s current performance, the Chief Secretary noted that J&K generates only around ₹12 crore annually from MAPs — far below its potential, with national estimates pegging the sector at ₹10,000 crore and the global market at ₹2 lakh crore. He stressed the need for a scientifically driven, commercially oriented approach to boost production, attract investment and enhance farmer incomes.
Dulloo directed the Forest Department, Agriculture Production Department and research institutions to chalk out a coordinated action plan with clearly defined responsibilities. He asked the Forest Department to propagate quality planting material through nurseries and create training models for farmers, while the Agriculture Department will identify commercially viable species, develop agro-climatic zonation, and strengthen value addition and market linkages.
CSIR-IIIM Jammu and SKUAST were asked to provide research support, technology transfer and develop Centres of Excellence for MAPs along with germplasm banks for conservation and scientific research.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Shailendra Kumar stressed a sustainability-focused long-term roadmap, while Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Sheetal Nanda assured regulatory support and farmer facilitation.
Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), 28 MAP clusters covering 1,400 farmers have already been established, and 5,300 farmers trained in the past two years. Currently cultivated species include Lavender, Harad, Wild Marigold and Rosemary, with market prices of high-value plants ranging from ₹100 to ₹1 lakh per kg.
Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu, Dr. Zabeer Ahmad, highlighted the potential of J&K as a future MAP-driven bio-economy hub, supported by more than 1,100 native plant species, including 25 with high international demand. The global market for medicinal and aromatic plants is projected to cross USD 650 billion by 2030, he added.
The plan also includes land optimisation using degraded forest patches, developing aroma and phyto-pharma clusters across Jammu, Kashmir and Chenab Valley, and exploring amendments to the J&K Minor Forest Produce Policy-2022 for better farmer participation and industry integration.
