CSIR-IHBT inked MoU with Mani Trust, Kalimpong, West Bengal for promotion of aromatic crops.
CSIR has started Aroma Mission during 2017 and Floriculture Mission 2020 programmes to promote the aromatic crops and floriculture crops : Dr. Sanjay Kumar, DIRECTOR
CSIR-IHBT inked MoU with Mani Trust, Kalimpong, West Bengal for promotion of aromatic crops
editor-in-chief
Kalimpong is a northeastern hill town in the Indian Himalayan foothills (altitude: 1250 m)
of West Bengal with an annual summer temperature of 15-25 °C, and a winter temperature of 7- 15 °C and yearly average rainfall is 2030 mm. The climate comprises five distinctive seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter, and the monsoon) and provides diverse climatology; thus, CSIR-IHBT recognized this area for the cultivation of aromatic and floriculture crops.
Mr. Subash Mani Singh, Chairperson, Mani Trust, district Kalimpong, West Bengal, has shown his interest in these crops, and CSIR-IHBT signed an MOU on 7th September 2021 with the trust for cultivation, promotion of high-value aromatic crops and establishment of processing unit for aromatic crops at Kalimpong.
Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, said that CSIR has started Aroma Mission during 2017 and Floriculture Mission 2020 programmes to promote the
aromatic crops and floriculture crops along with socio-economic upliftment and employment generation for the farming community and rural masses throughout the country. The processing unit is indispensable for the value addition of aromatic plants, and the establishment of this facility in Kalimpong will benefit the local farmers.
CSIR-IHBT is working for decades on Himalayan resources and has also focused on the socio-economic upliftment of farmers by bringing innovations to the field. CSIR has initiated Aroma Mission in 2017 and covered an area of 550 ha under Aroma Mission Phase I up to March 2020. In the follow-up of success of Aroma Mission, CSIR-IHBT is now again a part of Aroma Mission “Phase II”, CSIR-IHBT is committed to bringing 3000 ha pan India and will help in self-employment generation socio-economic upliftment of the farmers, including the
northeastern region of India. Aromatic crops are widely cultivated around the world due to their high-revenue earning essential oil, which is utilized in agrochemical, food, flavoring, perfumery, and pharmaceutical industry.
The global essential oils market size is valued at USD 10.3 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach a value of USD 16.0 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period.
Dr Rakesh Kumar, Senior Principal Scientist cum Co Nodal of aroma mission at IHBT told that there is a growing inclination of consumers towards natural and organic products, which led to an increased usage of essential oils in cosmetics, food, and beverages.
Dr Kumar also said that the Kalimpong region is suitable for the cultivation of high value aromatic crops such as
damask rose, mushkbala, mint, wild marigold, scented geranium, lemongrass and chamomile.
The institute will help the farmers by providing quality planting material, capacity building,
value addition through processing of aromatic plants and will help in establishing market linkages.
Mr Subash Mani, Chairman of Mani Trust told that this partnership would allow them to work in collaboration with the leading CSIR institute in cultivating aromatic and floriculture crops in Kalimpong region and to provide maximum benefit to regional farmers.
He also expresses gratitude towards initiatives of CSIR-IHBT for collaborating with Mani Trust, which will help the farmers in improving their livelihood and making them self-reliant.