Lavender goes global: 4th Lavender Festival concludes in Bhaderwah
Bhaderwah, June 7
The two-day 4th Lavender Festival, organised by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, concluded successfully in Bhaderwah today. The festival, held under the theme "Lavender Goes Global," witnessed enthusiastic participation from farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, industry representatives, and visitors from across Jammu and Kashmir.
The festival was inaugurated on Saturday by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Department of Atomic Energy of India, Jitendra Singh, at Government Degree College Bhaderwah.
During the inaugural session, Singh highlighted the success of the Purple Revolution and the transformation brought about by lavender cultivation in the region.
A major attraction of the concluding day was the Farmers-Buyers-Sellers Meet, which provided a platform for lavender growers to interact directly with buyers, industry stakeholders, and marketers, creating opportunities for better market access and business collaborations.
The festival also featured exhibitions, technical sessions, and interactions aimed at promoting lavender-based entrepreneurship and value addition. Several startups, progressive farmers, and entrepreneurs associated with the lavender sector were felicitated for their contributions towards strengthening the lavender economy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The event highlighted the remarkable success of the Aroma Mission and reinforced Bhaderwah's emergence as India's Lavender Capital, inspiring more youth and farmers to explore lavender cultivation as a sustainable source of income and employment.
Organised by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, the festival celebrates the success of the Lavender Mission and the Purple Revolution in the Chenab Valley.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Impressive to see lavender cultivation taking off in such a unique region. It's a smart move diversifying agriculture into high-value aromatic crops. Would love to see more Indian lavender oil in international markets.
Great initiative but I hope the benefits reach small farmers directly, not just big entrepreneurs. The farmers-buyers meet sounds promising – let's ensure fair pricing and sustainable contracts for the actual growers. One of my relatives started lavender farming last year, and the support from IIIM has been decent but there's room for improvement in market linkages.
Lovely to see local entrepreneurship thriving in Kashmir. The fragrance of lavender must be amazing in the valley! Tourism will also benefit from this. Hope they are planting enough to meet global demand while keeping the ecosystem balanced.
Bhaderwah is truly rising! From being a border area to now an aroma hub, this transformation is inspiring. The Aroma Mission is a game-changer for hilly regions. I hope similar initiatives come to other parts of Himachal and Uttarakhand too. Well done, team IIIM! 👏
This is such a refreshing story amidst all the negative news. Lavender cultivation as a sustainable livelihood – brilliant! The farmers-buyers meet is exactly the kind of practical support that makes a difference. Hope the lavender oil from Bhaderwah makes its way to perfumeries worldwide.
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