J-K: CRPF organises free medical camp in remote Rajouri area
Rajouri Marc, h 12
,: The 72 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force organised a free medical camp on Thursday in Jamola, a remote hilly area of Rajouri.
Jitendra Singh Yadav, the Commanding Officer of the 72 Battalion CRPF, stated, "This medical camp has been organised by the 72 Battalion. We have organised these camps in other places also, because this is a very remote area, and people might not get the proper medical facilities."
He also mentioned that in addition to medical camps, the battalion is conducting other civic action programs and plans to carry out de-addiction programmes in various locations.
Earlier on March 3, a one-day workshop organised at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, brought together 100 apple orchardists to explore integrating lavender cultivation and beekeeping into their existing farms. The initiative aimed to enhance farm income, ecological sustainability, and reduce dependency on a single crop.
Speaking to ANI, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR, said, "We developed an innovative model through which we integrate apple, orchard and lavender seed in an apiculture production system. The underlying idea of this innovative model is how we make apple production cheaper, and farmers can also have additional income from lavender based product. All together, these crop networks will maintain ecological sustainability."
The workshop focused on promoting crop diversification by integrating lavender cultivation and beekeeping within existing apple orchards to enhance farm income and ecological sustainability. Lavender cultivation helps as an additional revenue source through essential oil production, supports pollinator activity, while beekeeping improves fruit set, overall orchard productivity, and honey production.
Scientists and technical officers delivered practical sessions on scientific lavender cultivation practices, apiary management, pest and disease control, and value addition strategies. Demonstrations were also conducted to showcase best practices in honey extraction and processing, along with guidance on market linkages and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Participants expressed keen interest in adopting the integrated model, acknowledging its potential to reduce dependency on a single crop, mitigate risks associated with climate variability, and create sustainable livelihood avenues. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen resilient agro-ecosystems and promote innovative farming systems across the Kashmir Valley.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The lavender and beekeeping workshop sounds fantastic! Diversification is the key for our farmers. Relying only on apples is risky with changing weather patterns. Hope this model is scaled up across J&K. Great work by CSIR-IIIM!
While I appreciate the medical camp, we must ask why basic facilities are still missing in these "remote areas" after so many years. The administration needs to build permanent clinics, not just rely on temporary camps by security forces. Just my two cents.
Jai Hind to our CRPF jawans! They are true nation builders. The de-addiction programs mentioned are also crucial. Substance abuse is a silent crisis in many hill areas. Salute to their all-round service.
The integrated farming model is brilliant. Beekeeping helps pollination and provides honey, lavender gives essential oil... it's a circular economy model that protects the environment too. More Indian agriculture needs this kind of innovative, scientific thinking.
Good news from Rajouri and Pulwama. When people's basic health is cared for and their livelihoods are made secure, it builds tremendous goodwill. This is real development work. Hope the apple orchardists benefit greatly from the new techniques.
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