Director IIIM reviews R&D and Translation Outreach in MAPs

JAMMU: The Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting on research, development and translation outreach activities of the Institute in the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) sector.

At the outset, Dr Ahmed placed on record the visionary leadership and policy support ofDr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, for science driven development, innovationled growth and regional empowerment,that has provided strategic momentum to MAPs based programmes and significantly strengthening the national scale and translational impact of CSIR-led MAPs initiatives.

The review assessed progress across the entire MAPs innovation continuum, encompassing germplasm conservation, crop improvement, agrotechnology development, post-harvest processing, value addition, quality assurance, technology dissemination and enterprise incubation.

During the deliberations, the Director highlighted the strategic importance of MAPs at the interface of agriculture, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, perfumery and wellness sectors. He noted that CSIR-IIIM’s research programmes are structured to address critical bottlenecks such as availability of quality planting material, low productivity, post-harvest losses, inconsistent quality and limited market integration, with a clear focus on technology readiness and scalability.

Dr Shahid Rasool, Principal Scientist gave a detailed presentation on the activities undertaken at CSIR-IIIM’s Field Stations at Bonera, Pulwama and Yarikah, Tangmarg. He informed that the research and technology pursuits for improved agrotechnological packages for priority aromatic and medicinal crops, including optimized planting practices, nutrient and water management and integrated disease management approaches have resulted in theirenhancedbiomass yield, essential oil recovery and phytochemical quality profile.

The Stations, he informed,function as key platforms for mass scaleGermplasm multiplication, characterization, varietal evaluation and agronomic standardization of various region specific MAPs under North Western Himalayan agro-climatic conditions. The activities undertaken include development of crop specific cultivation protocols, disease and pest management strategies and productivity enhancement modules that are scientifically validated prior to large-scale dissemination.

Scientific teams from various divisions of the Institute present in the meeting highlighted that the advances made at the Institute in post-harvest processing technologies, extraction systems, phytochemical profiling and quality assurance protocols. CSIR-IIIM’s capabilities in analytical validation, standardization and process optimization were noted as critical enablers for regulatory compliance, market access and global competitiveness of MAPs derived products.

Dr Ahmed, laid emphasis on technology translation and outreach beyond Jammu and Kashmir, with the Institute reporting successful dissemination of MAP technologies in the Northeastern states, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Through structured training programmes, field demonstrations and sustained handholding, the Institute has facilitated adoption of high value MAP crops across diverse agro-ecological regions, contributing to crop diversification, climate resilient agriculture and improved farmer incomes.

He also stressed for a coherent methodology forincubation and promotion of agri-entrepreneurship in the aroma and MAPs sector. CSIR-IIIM’s interventions have enabled the emergence of farmer-producers, start-ups and rural enterprises engaged in cultivation, essential oil distillation, primary processing and value added product development, thereby strengthening decentralized value chains and generating local employment.

While appreciating the efforts of the CSIR IIIM Scientists, Dr Ahmed, highlighted the national recognition accorded to CSIR-Aroma Mission through the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar - Team Award 2025, describing it as a validation of CSIR’s missionmode research framework and its ability to deliver measurable socio-economic impact through translational science.

In his concluding remarks, the Dr Zabeer Ahmed, outlined a forward roadmap focusing on prioritization of high potential MAP species, strengthening digital advisory and monitoring systems, expanding public-private partnerships and aligning institutional research with national bioeconomy and sustainability goals. The review reaffirmed CSIR-IIIM’s mandate to advance a resilient, inclusive and innovation driven bioeconomy through science-led MAPs interventions.