Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurates India’s ‘First Lavender Festival’ in Bhaderwah

What is the News?

Union Minister has inaugurated India’s ‘First Lavender Festival’ in Bhaderwah and termed Bhaderwah as the birthplace of India’s Purple Revolution.

Note: India’s first National Institute of High Altitude Medicine is also being built in Bhaderwah.

What is Lavender?

Lavandula (common name lavender) is a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae.

The flowers may be blue, violet or lilac in the wild species, occasionally blackish purple or yellowish.

Cultivation: Lavender cultivation has employed about 5,000 farmers and young entrepreneurs in geographically remote areas of J&K. More than 1,000 farming families are cultivating it on more than 200 acres.

‘Lavender Cultivation’ is getting promoted under CSIR-IIIM’s Aroma Mission.

Applications: Lavender has been used over centuries in traditional medicine and cosmetics. For instance, the main product is Lavender oil which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre.

Lavender water, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks.

Hydrosol is formed after distillation from the flowers. This is used to make soaps and room fresheners.

What is the status of lavender cultivation under the CSIR-AROMA Mission?

CSIR-IIIM introduced lavender to farmers in Doda, Rama, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur, etc.

The mission provided free quality planting material and an end-to-end technology package for cultivation, processing, value addition and marketing of the Lavender crop to the farmers.

CSIR-IIIM also installed 50 distillation units at different locations across J&K under CSIR-Aroma Mission.

Source: The post is based on the article “Ministry of Science and Technology inaugurates India’s ‘First Lavender Festival’ in Bhaderwah” published in PIB on 26th May 2022.