Union Minister Inaugurates Lavender Festival 2025 in Bhaderwah
| Category | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Lavender Festival 2025 inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, organized by CSIR-IIIM Jammu. |
| Location | Bhaderwah (J&K), now recognized as India's lavender capital. |
| Purpose | Promotes aromatic farming under the Aroma Mission and Purple Revolution. |
| Lavender Cultivation | - Suitable for J&K's climate (cold winters, mild summers). - Low maintenance, productive for 15 years. - Higher returns than traditional crops. |
| Aroma Mission | Launched by Ministry of Science & Technology & CSIR to boost farmer incomes via lavender cultivation. - Lavender oil sells at ₹10,000/liter. - Other products: medicines, incense sticks, soaps, air fresheners. |
| Mission Progress | Phase-I: Covered 46 aspirational districts, trained 44,000+ farmers. Phase-II: Targets 45,000+ skilled workers, supports 75,000+ farming households. |
| ODOP Initiative | Lavender designated as "Doda brand product" under One District One Product (ODOP-DEH) scheme. |
| Economic Impact | - Farmers/entrepreneurs earn ₹65+ lakhs annually. - 50+ distillation units in Bhaderwah, supplying products to Maharashtra and beyond. |
| National Alignment | Supports Startup India, Standup India, and rural entrepreneurship. |
| Expansion Plans | Other states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Northeast) exploring lavender cultivation. |