Lucknow: A five-day training programme for farmers kicked off on Monday at the CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow. The programme has been organized to raise awareness among farmers selected by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Siwan, Bihar, about cultivation, processing, and marketing technologies related to medicinal and aromatic plants.
Thirty participants, including two women farmers from Siwan district, are attending the training. The initiative aims to equip farmers with knowledge about cultivation as well as product development techniques from medicinal and aromatic plants to ensure direct economic benefits for them.
Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Scientist and Project Coordinator of the Aroma Mission, said that CSIR-CIMAP has been promoting the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants for over six decades. The institute continues to provide farmers with innovative agricultural technologies, planting materials, and improved crop varieties.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar Srivastava briefed the participants about the institute’s various services and activities, as well as the range of herbal products developed by CSIR-CIMAP. Later, Dr. Rakesh Kumar shared advanced techniques for mint cultivation, while Dr. Ram Suresh Sharma discussed modern agronomic practices for vetiver (khus) cultivation.
The training programme is part of CSIR-CIMAP’s ongoing efforts to empower farmers through science-driven farming and to enhance income opportunities through the cultivation of high-value aromatic and medicinal crops.
