A Fun and Informative Workshop on Agriculture Entrepreneurship in Kashmir

CSIR-IIIM recently organized a super cool workshop on Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Agriculture in Kashmir. It was a one-day event that focused on the cultivation, processing, and postharvest technology of aromatic, medicinal, and floricultural crops. The workshop was a part of the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative and took place at the CSIR IIIM Field Station in Pulwama. Dr. Zabeer Ahmad, the Director of CSIR IIIM Jammu, and Er Ab Rahim, the Head of RMBD&IST & Head of CSIR IIIM Srinagar, were the key people behind this awesome workshop. A total of 75 students and faculty members from the Department of Botany at Amar Singh College in Srinagar participated in the event.

The workshop began with an introduction by Dr. Iqra Farooq, who is a Project Associate at CSIR-IIIM. She gave a brief overview of the role of CSIR-IIIM in developing and spreading technologies related to the cultivation and processing of important medicinal, aromatic, and floricultural crops. Some of the cool crops discussed during the workshop were Lavender, Rosemary, Rose Scented Geranium, Damask Rose, Saffron, Lilium, Marigold, and Gladiolus. The aim of the workshop was to promote the cultivation of these crops among farmers to increase their income and livelihood. CSIR Aroma Mission, CSIR Floriculture Mission, and CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative are some of the projects and missions that are working towards achieving this goal.

During the workshop, the participants were given practical training and skills on various aspects of the value chain of these crops. They learned about propagation techniques, cultivation methods, processing techniques, and postharvest technology. Dr. Aadil Khursheed, another Project Associate, demonstrated the distillation techniques for extracting essential oils from aromatic crops. He also shared information about the bioactive constituents and their properties found in these crops.

Dr. Nahida Chishti, an Associate Professor at Amar Singh College, appreciated the efforts of the Field Station team in organizing such an informative and skill-building workshop. She emphasized the importance of knowledge-based skill development and the spirit of entrepreneurship among the participating students. It was a great event that provided valuable insights and opportunities for the students to explore in the field of agriculture entrepreneurship.