Project Report

PROJECT TITLE: “Establishment of Demonstration Farms of Aroma Cash

Crops (K-5000)” in District Kupwara of Jammu & Kashmir.

AREA OF SPECIALIZATION: Crop Production - Cultivation and Processing of

Aromatic and Medicinal crops.

SELECTED CROPS: Tagetus minuta, Lavender, Salvia sclarea, Rosa damascena, Rose

Scented Geranium, Mentha piperita and Mentha spicata/ arvensis ,Monarda citriodora.

TOTAL PROJECT COST: The Total Project Cost is Rs 500 lacs (Rs 5.0 Crore). DURATION OF THE PROJECT: The total duration of the project shall be three

(03) years, commencing from the Year 2017-18. TOTAL AREA OF THE PROJECT: The project area is 5000 kanals (250 hectares) of

land.

TARGETED LAND FOR THE PROJECT: The land targeted for cultivation of

the targeted Crops is the community owned/ Kahscherie/ Govt Land.

COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROJECT:

CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu (India)- 180016 and

J&K Science, Technology and Innovation Council, Deptt. of S&T, Govt. of J&K. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL AND ITS OBJECTIVES :

The project is envisaged to be implemented over an area of 250 hectares in three

phases over the period of 3 years wherein the cultivation, processing and utilization of

targeted/ selected aromatic crops will be done. The project will be jointly funded, executed

and implemented by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu and J&K State

Science Technology and Innovation Council, J&K. Around 75 hectares of land in phase-I

would be brought under the intensive cultivation of Tagetus minuta and other targeted crops

in different areas of district Kupwara in J&K State.

Kupwara is the backward frontier District of Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, full

of scenic beauty located between 34.18 to 34.47 North Latitude and 73.45 to 74.3

East Longitude. Dense forests and rich wild life make it significant from tourism

and wildlife point of view. The District Headquarter "Kupwara" is situated at a distance of 90

kms from the summer capital of State,i.e. Srinagar. The District is situated at an average

altitude of 5300 feet from the sea level. The geographical area of the District is 2379 sq. km.

The north west part of the District is bound by line of actual control (L.O.C)) while the

southern portion is bound by the District Baramulla. District Kupwara Consists of 15 Tehsils

that include Karnah, Keran, Kralpora, Machil, Trehgam, Kupwara, Drugmulla, Lalpora,

Sogam, Handwara, Langate, Qaziabad Kralgund, Zachaldara, Villagam and Ramhall

Tarathpora.

The farming community of the r e g i o n is facing tough times to earn sufficient

economic returns with traditional farming and cropping system. Resorting to the cultivation of

aromatic and medicinal crops offers hope for enhancing the income of farmers despite

global warming and climate change. The crops selected under this project are the natural

aroma sources acceptable to the industry and have tremendous potential to give a quantum

leap to the aroma business. Cultivation and processing of the crop based on CSIR

technologies will provide a demonstration model for the farming community of the region.

The project is expected to provide alternate crop to the farmers for adoption in their existing

cropping systems for increased income generation and employment opportunities in rural

farming sector besides developed of the business model for prospective entrepreneurs and

supply source for aroma and industry. This proposal is formulated to implement all

over the State in the phased manner, however it is proposed that in phase-I, phase- II

and phase-III demonstration farms at Kupwara will be established over an area of about

5000 kanals (250 hectares) at different locations of tehsil Handwara, Drugmulla, Zachaldara,

Tarathpora, Kralpora, Trehgam and Qaziabad.

Due to favourable agro-climatic conditions, adaptability of different aroma producing

crops like Tagetus, lavender, rose-scented geranium, rose, rosemary, clarysage, mentha

spp. and host of other factors including small land holdings, the Kupwara district of Kashmir

Valley is ideally suited for the development and production of aromatic crops throughout the

year and for diversification into new avenues which have not yet been explored to a greater

extent. The main focus of the project will be on demonstration, skill development, training

and awareness, employment and income generation for the rural masses through

cultivation, processing and marketing of Aromatic Industrial crops.

THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE :

i. Bringing about 5000 Kanals (250 ha) of hilly/ steep undulated and uncultivated area

under cultivation of aromatic cash crops particularly targeting rain- fed/ degraded areas

prone to soil erosion in district Kupwara.

ii. Establishment of demonstration farms through cultivation and processing of region

specific superior genotypes of different medicinal & aromatic plants developed and

released by CSIR on higher scale in Kupwara.

iii. Skill development, technology transfer and employment generation through effective

extension and transfer of technologies developed by CSIR-IIIM of rural farmers,

agri-business co-operatives, NGOs and entrepreneurs.

iv. To provide proven business model based on CSIR MACs technology for adoption by

farmers.

v. Provide technical and infrastructural support for distillation and value- addition to

farmers/growers.

vi. Enabling effective buy-back mechanisms to assure remunerative prices to the

farmers/growers.

vii. Value-addition of essential oils and aroma ingredients for their integration in national and

global trade and economy.

EXPECTED MAJOR OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT:

• Promotion of cultivation and processing of aromatic crops, enhancing area under

selected aromatic crops along with enabling interventions including setting up of

distillation units and cooperatives for marketing of the produce. Revenue generated

from the sale of the produce of this project will be utilized for further extension of

aromatic crops in the District Kupwara and elsewhere in the State.

• Value-addition of aromatic crops (High-end aroma chemicals and products).

• Ensuring profitability and improved living standards of farmers and their poverty

alleviation as a result of increased household incomes.

• Skill development activities- Increased awareness, knowledge and capacities of

farmers, students and rural unemployed youth through technology dissemination,

training's and other programmes on the concept and principles of good agricultural

practices.

• Diversification in agriculture sector by providing alternate crops over the traditional in

existing cropping system for better returns.

• Utilization of degraded wasteland, rain fed areas and unproductive land for

cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.

• Entrepreneurship development.

• Sustaining ecology of the region.

WORK DONE :

The project operations were initiated from the second fortnight of April. An area of

around 600 kanals (30 hectares) of hilly undulated and uncultivated land in 10 remote

locations of district Kupwara viz. Machipora, Gonipora Tilakraj, Nutnusa and Negri in tehsil

Handwara, Hafrada in tehsil Tarathpora, Waisa kawnar, Kukroosa in tehsil Willgam,

Rengpath, Panditpora in tehsil Langate, Trehgam in Kupwara and Lone Harrai in tehsil

kralpora was prepared for the plantation and targeted crops of Tagetus minuta, Monarda

citriodora and Salvia sclarea was planted over the fields. The rooted plants of Lavender

and Rose are ready for the transplantation. An area of 500 kanals (25 hectares) has been

identified for cultivation and land development and ploughing is being done.

A view of Field preparation

A view of Field preparation

Field View of the crops grown under project K-5000

Farmers of district Kupwara on Field Visit to Field Station Bonera,

Pulwama

Scientists of CSIR-IIIM interacting with the farmers of district Kupwara at Field

Station Bonera, Pulwama.

Scientists of CSIR-IIIM interacting with the farmers of district Kupwara at Field

Station Bonera, Pulwama.