Potential in Lavender cultivation

Context:

• Cultivation of lavender has changed fortunes of farmers in Jammu and Kashmir farmers who quit maize crop cultivation to take up the new crop.
• More than 800 progressive farmers of Doda adopted aromatic cultivation which is now proved out to be more profitable to them than maize.
• The farmers, who are growing lavender under the government’s Aroma Mission, said that they are happy while adopting farming of unconventional aromatic plants under Aroma Mission.
• Lavender cultivation is practiced in almost all the 20 districts of Jammu & Kashmir. Under the mission, first-time farmers were given free lavender saplings, while those who had cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.

Growth Potential:

• Kashmir provides the best climatic conditions conducive to lavender plantations as it grows well in cold temperatures and moderately warm summers and needs one or two irrigations during the rain-fed periods.
• This cash crop has a gestation period of two years before reaching economic productivity.
• The plant, best known as a crop in Mediterranean countries, requires lots of sunlight but needs little water.
• Main product derived from the cultivation is is Lavender oil which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre. 
• Lavender water, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks. Hydrosol, which is formed after distillation from the flowers, is used to make soaps and room fresheners.
  
  
  
  
   

Aroma Mission

• The CSIR Aroma Mission is envisaged to bring transformative change in the aroma sector through desired interventions in the areas of agriculture, processing and product development for fuelling the growth of aroma industry and rural employment.
• The mission will promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry.
• It is expected to enable farmers and the aroma industry to become global leaders in the production and export of some other essential oils in the pattern of menthol mint.
• The mission intends to provide technical and infrastructural support for distillation and value-addition to the concerned farmers/growers.
• The mission will enable effective buy-back mechanisms to assure remunerative prices to the farmers/growers. Value-addition will be provided to essential oils and aroma ingredients for their integration in global trade and economy.