PULWAMA: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu organized a two day technical and entrepreneurial skill development workshop at its Field Station in Bonera Pulwama, with a focused aim to empower women through scientific cultivation, processing and value addition of aromatic crops.

The initiative is part of Institute's CSIR Aroma Mission to translate its research and technologies into grassroots impact, particularly by empowering women in rural and semi-urban areas.

The workshop was designed to equip 100 women farmers, self-help group (SHG) members of National Rural Livelihood Mission with hands-on training and entrepreneurial knowledge to enhance income, livelihood opportunities, and foster the Agritech startup ecosystem.

The two day programme featured onsite practical demonstrations and expert sessions on scientific cultivation of aromatic crops, post- harvest handling and processing, techniques to develop value-added products, market research and business model creation.

Participants also interacted with successful women entrepreneurs trained under previous Aroma Mission initiatives, gaining insights into market opportunities and business challenges.

At the culmination of the workshop 70000 quality plants of Lavender and Rosemary were distributed free of cost to the trained beneficiaries.

Speaking to our correspondent Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR IIIM Jammu said that women are at the heart of our rural economy. By imparting scientific knowledge and entrepreneurial skills in aromatic crop cultivation and value addition, we are not only enhancing incomes but also nurturing a new generation of women-led agritech startups.

He added that the Institute is dedicated to the development and dissemination of technologies based on medicinal and aromatic plants, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and societal impact.

This workshop at our Field Station in Pulwama is part of our ongoing effort to empower women as key drivers of economic change in the rural bioeconomy.

Addressing the participants at the workshop Dr Shahid Rasool, Senior Scientist and Incharge Field Station Pulwama informed that the activities under the Mission are in conformity with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 for empowering women and are personally being mentored and monitored by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science and Technology.

Through the CSIR Aroma Mission, we aim to bring scientific knowledge and entrepreneurship to the grassroots. This capacity-building initiative is expected to serve as a model for community-led development, creating new opportunities in the natural product value chain and helping integrate women more fully into India's bioeconomy, he said