STATE TIMES NEWS
KATHUA: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu on Tuesday organised a one-day workshop on “Empowering Farmers through Quality Seed Distribution and Technology Dissemination in Floriculture and Apiculture-based Bioenterprises” at the Industrial Biotechnology Park (IBTP), Ghatti-Kathua.
The programme was held under the CSIR Floriculture Mission, a flagship initiative envisioned by Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, aimed at promoting high-value floriculture enterprises and enhancing farmers’ income through science-led interventions.
The workshop witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 150 farmers from Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir. It was designed to provide farmers with comprehensive exposure to modern scientific technologies, best agricultural practices, and market-oriented approaches in commercial floriculture, apiculture, and allied value-added enterprises. The initiative sought to enable farmers to diversify income sources and adopt sustainable agri-business models.
Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, was the Chief Guest and delivered the presidential address. He highlighted the immense potential of commercial floriculture and beekeeping as profitable and remunerative ventures, particularly for small and marginal farmers. Dr. Ahmed informed that the CSIR Floriculture Mission is being implemented under the visionary guidance of Dr. Jitendra Singh and emphasized that floriculture and apiculture are employment-intensive sectors capable of generating quick economic returns when supported by quality planting material, scientific crop management, and efficient market linkages.
He further underlined that the availability of quality seeds and planting material, adoption of standardized production protocols, and integration with value chains are crucial for developing sustainable agri-enterprises. Dr. Ahmed reaffirmed CSIR-IIIM Jammu’s commitment to bridging the gap between laboratory innovations and farmers’ fields through research, development, and extension activities, thereby contributing to rural prosperity and inclusive growth.
Nodal Scientist of the Mission, Dr. Shahid Rasool, presented a detailed overview of the mission’s objectives and the pivotal role of CSIR-IIIM Jammu in driving science-based agrarian transformation in the region. He elaborated on efforts to disseminate improved varieties of ornamental crops, standardize cultivation and post-harvest technologies, and implement farmer-centric capacity-building models. Dr. Rasool highlighted the commercial importance of high-value cut flowers such as gladiolus, lilium, carnation, and gerbera, which enjoy strong domestic demand and emerging export potential. He also spoke about the growing adoption of bulbous ornamental crops like tulips and lilies due to their high market value and suitability to local agro-climatic conditions.
Prominent floriculturist and member of the J&K Kisan Advisory Board, Tejinder Singh, shared practical insights and market experiences. He stressed that floriculture is a viable agribusiness in J&K due to sustained demand and urged farmers to understand market trends, plan crops accordingly, maintain quality standards, and adopt collective marketing models. He appreciated CSIR-IIIM’s role in providing quality planting material to over 3,500 farmers, which has significantly transformed the floriculture sector and improved farmers’ socio-economic conditions.
Farmers received hands-on training in scientific crop production, pest and disease management, post-harvest handling, and integrated apiculture practices. Sessions covered honey and beeswax production, hive management, quality standards, value addition in floriculture produce, dry flowers, floral crafts, essential oils, landscaping, and ornamental horticulture. Interactive discussions enabled farmers to address location-specific challenges and boosted confidence to adopt new technologies.
The workshop concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among scientists, farmers, and market stakeholders to build resilient and profitable agri-enterprises in Jammu and Kashmir.