Srinagar, June 08: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) Jammu, as part of its One Week One Lab (OWOL) campaign, successfully organized a "Young Researcher Meet (YRM)" event at its main campus at Jammu and "Awareness Programme for Farmers" at its Chatha Experimental Farm, Jammu.
An official said both events commenced with an introduction to the OWOL Programme, highlighting its conceptualization by Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Young Researcher Meet witnessed the participation of over 100 aspiring researchers from various Universities. A poster session followed by a brainstorming discussion on cutting-edge research was conducted, where scholars from CSIR-IIIM and visitors discussed the latest research and experimental outcomes.
The scholars provided live demonstrations of research and analytical facilities, showcasing laboratory techniques unique to the institute. This was followed by an interactive session where participants engaged with the Scientists from CSIR-IIIM, Jammu.
Dr Nasir ul Rasheed, Senior Scientist & Nodal Scientist Skill Development briefed participants about Skill Development, Internship & Training programs offered by the Institute.
More than 300 farmers from Rajouri, Jammu, Kathua, Samba, and Udhampur districts attended the Awareness programme for farmers at Chatha farm organized under CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III.
During this day-long program, they were apprised of the cultivation, processing, value addition, product development, and marketing of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs). Farmers appreciated the efforts of IIIM and showed enthusiasm to associate with the programme.
Chief Guest of the Programme, Dr. Sushil Kumar Gupta, Registrar and Dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry, SKUAST, Jammu, urged participants to take full benefit of the programme and adopt cash crops like MAPs.
He suggested that the synergy between CSIR-IIIM, SKUAST, and Agriculture Department will bring good fortunes to the farmers.
Guest of Honour, K.K. Sharma, Director of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare, Jammu, apprised about various welfare schemes of the department and appreciated the effort of CSIR-IIIM under the Aroma Mission.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, IIIM Jammu, while speaking on occasion, said that after the remarkable success of CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-I and II, CSIR has launched Phase-III of this mission project which would focus on establishing clusters where end-to-end solutions would be provided to farmers for value addition, product development for the inclusive economic development of the farmers of the region and the promotion of the agri-tech startup ecosystem.
He also assured farmers that CSIR-IIIM would provide all support possible under the CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III for developing Aroma farming and industry in the region.
Earlier, Dr. Sumeet Gairola, Nodal Scientist, CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III (CSIR-IIIM), welcomed the guests and briefly introduced them to the achievements and plans of the CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III. Dr. Dhiraj Vyas, Head Plant & Agrotechnology Division, apprised participants about the "Purple Revolution" or "Success model of Lavender cultivation in J&K" under CSIR-Aroma Mission. Many scientists, technical officers, and scholars of the Plant Sciences & Agrotechnology Division were also present.
