SRINAGAR: The seven-day Advanced Entrepreneurship Skill Development Program on the theme, “Crop Diversification through Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Rainfed Areas for Doubling Farmers' Income” concluded here today at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Branch Lab. Srinagar. The programme, which lasted for seven days was aimed at empowering the aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to explore crop diversification, particularly through medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), and to enhance their income through innovative agricultural practices.
The valedictory function was presided over by Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu, who congratulated & complimented all participants for successfully completing the program. In his address, Dr. Ahmed emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in today's economy. He urged participants not to wait for government jobs but to instead choose the path of startups and entrepreneurship, becoming job creators rather than job seekers. He shared valuable insights and experiences about agri-startups and encouraged participants to collaborate with CSIR-IIIM through its incubation centres. Dr. Ahmed also stressed the need for promoting crop diversification to more than double farmers' income, highlighting the potential of medicinal and aromatic plants in achieving this goal.
The program featured a series of lectures, interactive sessions, and success stories from experts, banking institutions, government officers, and successful entrepreneurs. Participants expressed their satisfaction with the training, particularly appreciating the opportunity to interact with successful business entrepreneurs in aromatic and medicinal plants, mushroom cultivation, apiculture, waste-to-energy, and other allied sectors.
Giving detail of this weeklong Advanced Entrepreneurship Skill Development Program, Dr. Nasir-Ul-Rashid, the co-ordinator informed that on day 1, after an impressive inaugural session, Dr. O.P. Sharma, IFS (Retd. PCCF), delivered a keynote address on "Forests & Food through Traditions & Techniques." The day also included discussions on marketing strategies for MAPs.
The day 2 focused on marketing opportunities for medicinal and aromatic plants, the scope of medicinal plant cultivation, and the cultivation of high-value aromatic plants. Successful entrepreneurs shared their experiences and success stories. On 3rd day, the deliberations included the lectures on mushroom cultivation, value addition, and entrepreneurship development. Participants also learned about the scope of medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation in Ladakh and financial inclusion for entrepreneurs.
The day 4 was dedicated to beekeeping, processing, and value addition for entrepreneurship development. The day also included sessions on the propagation of high-value MAPs through tissue culture techniques and R&D in MAPs. On day 5 explored business opportunities in agro-energy, waste management, and biomass production as well as new opportunities in biomass conversion technologies.
The participants on day 6, went to meet successful business enterprises in aromatic and medicinal plants, mushroom growers and met different honey growers to understand their business models. On last and the 7th day, Dr. G.S. Naqash, Former Director of Floriculture and Horticulture, interacted with participants and shared tips on entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied sectors. He highlighted how the growing culture of crop diversification has given rise to new startups and entrepreneurs.
Dr. Sartaj Shah, Joint Director of the Agriculture Department, special guest has discussed various government schemes under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) and encouraged participants to take advantage of these initiatives. Dr Nasir Ul Rasheed, the program coordinator, provided an overview of the week-long program and shared insights into the day-wise schedule. Dr. Phalisteen Sultan conducted the proceedings of the valedictory function, while Dr. Nasheeman Ashraf delivered the formal vote of thanks.
The event was attended by scientific staff, technical staff, administrative staff, scholars, trainees, and other dignitaries. A total of 24 participants from different parts of the country successfully completed the training program and were given the certificates by Dr. Zabeer Ahmed. The program was widely appreciated by participants, who unanimously agreed that the interaction with successful entrepreneurs was the highlight of the training. They expressed confidence in applying the knowledge gained to their respective fields, contributing to the growth of agriculture and entrepreneurship in India.
