BASIT FAROOQ:
Pulwama, 13 July 2021, (KAT): The Union Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. Shekhar C Mande Sunday called for the development and promotion of various floral species and herbs in Kashmir on commercial lines to generate employment avenues for the Valley youth.
The Union Secretary was on visit to Lavender Farm Bonura in Pulwama district. He was accompanied by Director CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, Dr. Srinivasa Reddy.
During the visit, the Union Secretary interacted with the self-help group members of Pulwama and Tral blocks who apprised him of various issues pertaining to cultivation and marketing of their crops.
He assured them that an MoU will be signed with Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) which will provide marketing support to SHG members in terms of potential players for purchasing extracted medicinal oil.
Dr Mande impressed upon the officers for promotion and development of different types of floral species and herbs on commercial lines to generate employment opportunities for unemployed youth of the Valley.
He said that IIIM Bonura is going to provide orientation-cum-training and field visit opportunities to identified SHG members who can start their own aroma enterprises.
During an interaction with farm in-charge IIIM Bonura, he said Lavender and Rose Mary saplings will be distributed among the newly-identified SHG members of Pulwama, Tral and Pampore blocks in the coming months._(KAT).