Pulwama, Feb 11: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) organized a One-Day Workshop on “Integration of Lavender and Apiculture in Horticultural Production Systems” at its Field Station, Bonera, Pulwama. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation of more than 100 apple orchardists from Pulwama, Anantnag, Budgam, Srinagar, Baramulla, Kulgam and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The workshop aimed at orienting and sensitizing farmers about innovative crop and farming diversification strategies, through integration of lavender and apiculture in horticultural production systems, for enhanced farm profitability, reduced use of agrochemicals, resource use optimization, thus paving a way towards sustainable agro-ecosystems in Jammu & Kashmir.
The chief guest at the event Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR-IIIM Jammu, in his address to the participating orchardists while appreciating their active participation in the workshop, emphasized the importance of developing innovative production models utilizing the potential of various crops and agro-enterprises like apiculture through their integration for income enhancement of the farmers by generating additional income streams, and overall ecological sustainability of the pristine agro-ecosystems in J&K. Earlier, during his visit to various sectors of the Field Station, he also visited the apiary maintained at the Station and instructed the scientists for exploring new research initiatives in scientific bee keeping by leveraging the bee venom, propolis and royal jelly for their commercial and therapeutic potential.
Dr. Shahid Rasool, Principal Scientist and Incharge Field Station, Bonera in his interaction with the farmers informed that the researchers and scientific staff at the Field Station are in a continuum of developing various farmer oriented agro-technologies, for their socio-economic empowerment, refinement of the existing farming practices and overall sustainable rural development. He also highlighted the economic and ecological benefits of integrating lavender and apiculture into horticultural systems through its multifarious advantages like increased profitability, disease suppression, pollination and ecological services.
Present at the event, Dr. Fayaz Ahmed, Chief Scientist, CSIR IIIM, appreciated the farmers for their keen interest in adopting the scientific interventions and innovative farming practices. While commending the researchers working on developing the crop production technologies at the Station, he said that the efforts made across various crop production systems have been significantly contributing to the agrarian sector in the region.
In the technical session experts deliberated upon scope and viability of integrating apiculture and lavender in different orchard systems, lavender production technology, effective bee pollination services in enhancing the production while ensuring better market value of the produce and overall income enhancement from the crop fields. The workshop also focused on disease and insect pest suppression by lavender integration in orchards. The orchardists were sensitized about the agronomic suitability and overall synergy of the triad-innovative production system to impart a scientific know how about the agroecological sustainability.
The workshop reaffirmed CSIR-IIIM’s commitment to strengthening farmer-scientist linkages and promoting sustainable, high value farming systems in Jammu and Kashmir.