TEZPUR, Oct 21 - Tezpur University (TU) signed an MoU with the Lucknow-based CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatics Plants (CIMAP) to implement CSIR-Aroma Mission and rural technologies in the northeastern region during a recent one-day seminar at Tezpur University on �CSIR-Aroma Mission: Aroma Crops for Boosting Rural Economy of North East India�.
The aim of the day-long seminar was to initiate a brainstorming exercise for devising strategies to promote cultivation, processing and marketing of high value aromatic and medicinal plants that could empower local farmers and entrepreneurs of North East India.
The programme witnessed around 103 participants represented by the farmers of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, scholars, scientists, entrepreneurs and industrialists of the region. The northeastern region of India is a treasure house of biodiversity due to its beatific landscape and agro-climatic conditions suitable for promotion, cultivation and processing of aromatic and medicinal plants.
During the keynote address, Prof AK Tripathi, Director of CSIR-CIMAP emphasised on aromatic and medicinal plants suitable for the region that can contribute to high income and employment generation. He suggested formation of a Farmers� Advisory Centre (nodal centre) at Tezpur University to facilitate addressing problems faced by the farmers of the north eastern region in promoting medicinal and aromatic cultivation under CSIR-Aroma Mission.
Unemployed youths can go for value-addition of essential oils produced by the farmers of North East India with technical knowhow and support from CSIR laboratories and Tezpur University, Chief Scientist and Principal Investigator Dr Alok Kalra said. Experts from industry urged the farmers to choose aromatic crop varieties developed by the CSIR laboratories due its established acceptability in the existing market.
Scientists from CSIR-IHBT, Palampur and CSIR-IIIM Jammu deliberated on the cultivation practices and economy of high altitude aromatic crops such as rose, rosemary, scented geranium and lavender, that can be replicated in the farmers� field in the NE region and can contribute to doubling farmers� income with small land holdings.
Experts from CSIR-NEIST in Jorhat deliberated on various activities undertaken by them under CSIR-Aroma Mission and the superior varieties of lemon grass (L8), citronella (C-5) and patchouli (P1) and its yield and oil content in the farmers� field in North East India.
During the seminar, participating laboratories under CSIR-Aroma Mission (CSIR-CIMAP, CSIR-IHBT, CSIR-IIIM and CSIR-NEIST) mutually agreed to provide quality planting material of beneficiaries identified under the Aroma Mission. The panel discussion led by Prof AK Tripathi approved the roadmap for boosting rural income through cultivation, processing and marketing of aromatic crops in North East region. The day-long seminar concluded with exchange of MoU between TU and CIMAP in the presence of former Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland Central University and Professor of Tezpur University Prof BK Konwar and Prof AK Tripathi of CSIR-CIMAP. The seminar was organised under the guidance of Head, Rural Development and Nodal Officer Dr RK Srivastava of CIMAP and convener Dr Nima D Namsa of Tezpur University.
