JAMMU: In a significant step towards advancing science led agrarian transformation and enhancing farmers income through high value agri-enterprises, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, through the CSIR Floriculture Mission being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, has been providing the end to end support and handholding to the floriculture farmers.
For the enhancement of the capacity and scientific skill set of the farmers and stakeholders, the CSIR-IIIM organised a workshop on technology dissemination in floriculture and apiculture based bio-enterprises.
The workshop brought together 230 farmers from rainfed and irrigated agricultural zones of Jammu who were also provided with the quality planting material of high yielding varieties of marigold, reflecting the Mission’s inclusive outreach and region-specific approach.
The initiative aimed at enabling farmers to transition from traditional cropping systems to high value, market oriented and employment intensive agri-bio enterprises, supported by science, innovation and institutional handholding.
A spokesperson of the Institute, informed that the farmer centric initiatives through CSIR Floriculture Mission are shaping the landscape of the floriculture in the UT under the constant mentorship and strategic direction of Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Science and Technology and Vice President CSIR. His strong emphasis for taking the laboratory innovations to farmer fields has enabled the Institute to emerge as a catalyst for technology enabled rural entrepreneurship in the region.
The technical deliberations comprehensively covered the entire production to market continuum, including scientific nursery raising, planting techniques, nutrient and water management, integrated pest and disease management, storage and post-harvest handling, value addition, grading and quality assessment, market intelligence and value chain management in commercial floriculture.
Special emphasis was laid on commercially important floricultural crops such as Lilium, Marigold, Gladiolus, Gerbera, Carnation and other ornamental varieties, which offer strong market demand and high profitability potential in the region owing to diverse agro-climatic conditions in the region.
In parallel, the workshop focused extensively on integrated apiculture models, highlighting scientific beekeeping practices including colony management, seasonal management, disease and pest control, migratory beekeeping and the role of honeybees in enhancing pollination efficiency and crop productivity.
Farmers were also trained in the production, processing and value addition of honey, beeswax and honey based value added products, enabling diversification of income streams and improved economic resilience.
Speaking to our correspondent, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu, welcomed and appreciated the enthusiastic participation of the farmers and underscored the income generation potential, employment intensity and sustainability of floriculture and apiculture based agri-enterprises.
He stated that under the CSIR Floriculture Mission, access to quality planting material, scientific crop management practices and efficient market linkages has led to significant enhancement of the farm productivity and profitability in the region.
The Institute under the Mission has been effectively translating scientific knowledge in commercial floriculture into field level impact. The success stories emerging from the Mission clearly demonstrate that science based interventions can transform farmers into agri-entrepreneurs, Dr Ahmed said.
In his interaction with the participants, Er Abdul Rahim, Chief Scientist and Head RMD&IST, highlighted the importance of infrastructure development and post-harvest interventions in strengthening floriculture and apiculture value chains. He emphasised scientific nursery infrastructure, protected cultivation, efficient irrigation systems, primary processing, grading, packaging and cold chain integration as critical components for reducing post-harvest losses and improving market competitiveness.
Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist, CSIR Floriculture Mission in his address, highlighted the pivotal role being played by CSIR-IIIM Jammu in driving science based agrarian transformation in the region.
The Mission adopts a holistic, value chain approach from quality planting material and scientific crop management to post harvest handling, value addition and market intelligence, thus ensuring sustainable and quick economic returns for farmers, said Dr Rasool.
Tajinder Singh Wazir, prominent floriculturist and member of J&K Kisan Advisory Board, while appreciating the major initiative of the Institute for capacity building of the farmers, said that the farmers of the region have immensely benefited through the timely agro-advisories given to the farmers and availability of quality germplasm of various high yielding floricultural cultivars under the Mission.
The workshop featured highly interactive sessions, during which farmers engaged directly with scientists and experts to address field level challenges related to crop performance, disease management, post-harvest handling and market access. The participating farmers expressed satisfaction and shared that the outreach under the CSIR Floriculture Mission has increased their income manifold, with bumper harvests achieved from the improved crop varieties supplied through the Mission.
