Under the supervision of Dr J.P. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST Jammu, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Doda held a one-day virtual training programme on lavender cultivation for job creation today through Google meet. Farmers, rural youth, officers and extension workers from the Department of Agriculture Production and Farmers’ Welfare from Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, and Kathua districts attended the event, which was launched by Dr S.K. Gupta, Director Extension SKUAST Jammu. It was created with the goal of strengthening inter-district ties and spreading the Doda lavender cultivation model to other Jammu Division districts.
Dr AS Charak, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Doda, delivered the opening remarks. He also presided over discussions on lavender cultivation agronomic approaches. Dr Narinder Paul, a scientist at KVK Doda, gave a detailed presentation to the participants on the possibilities and chances for lavender growing in the Jammu Division’s temperate regions. Dr. Vishal Mahajan, Senior Scientist and Head of KVK Kathua, spoke about lavender oil’s potential for value addition. He advocated for the use of high-efficiency oil extraction equipment to extract as much essential oil as possible from lavender flowers. Bharat Bhushan, an IARI Innovative Awardee Farmer from District Doda, spoke about how he built a successful and profitable lavender nursery. Touqeer Bagban, a young lavender entrepreneur from Bhaderwah, discussed his experiences with the participants during the essential oil extraction process.
The participants were informed by Sunil Singh, Deputy Director Floriculture, on the department’s many lavender cultivation promotion programmes. In the backdrop of the current competitive market, Vijay Upadhaya, Chief Agriculture Officer Kathua, emphasised starting support for lavender entrepreneurs. Dr. Rakesh Khajuria, Doda’s District Agriculture Officer (Extension), proposed reorienting the Kisan Credit Card Scheme and the PM Fasal Bima Yojana to assist lavender producers. During the workshop, participants and resource persons discussed how to take advantage of the lavender’s varied entrepreneurship potential to increase revenue for small and marginal farmers, as well as involve rural youth. Dr. GN Jha, Scientist KVK Doda, gave a vote of gratitude at the close of the programme.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
