Aromatic Crop Cultivation Gains Momentum in Koraput with CSIR-CIMAP Collaboration

Recently the Koraput district administration, Odisha has joined hands with CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) in Lucknow to organize a comprehensive workshop dedicated to imparting valuable techniques for enhancing aromatic crop cultivation and improving the livelihoods of tribal farmers in Koraput district.

The one-day training program witnessed the active participation of over 100 individuals, including approximately 50 tribal women farmers. The initiative focused on introducing value-addition techniques for a variety of aromatic crops, including lemon grass, menthe, scented rose, jasmine, geranium, eucalyptus,  chamomile, and turmeric.

Emphasizing the importance of the initiative, especially in Koraput, an aspirational district where traditional agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood, Prasant Kumar Rout, a scientist from CSIR, highlighted the aim to substantially boost farmers' income through value-addition practices.

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Roshan Kartik, Deputy Director of Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) in Koraput, lauded the positive impact of the workshop. He commended the farmers' active involvement in producing essential oils and acknowledged the valuable insights gained from the workshop on value addition. These insights will empower farmers to create essential oil-based products such as incense sticks, room sprays, roll-ons, and toiletry items.

Under the CSIR-Aroma mission and the district's livelihood development program, tribal farmers in Koraput are actively engaged in cultivating various aromatic crops. Officials expressed their optimism that this initiative will not only increase the income of tribal farmers but also contribute to the overall economic development of the region.

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Further Karthik assured the farmers that the well-established marketing network of ORMAS will guarantee that farmers face no obstacles in selling their products. This network will streamline the distribution and sales process for the farmers' essential oil-based goods.

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