TU signs MoU with CSIR-CIMAP to promote medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation

A Correspondent

Tezpur: Tezpur University (TU) signed a MoU with Lucknow-based CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) to implement CSIR-Aroma Mission and rural technologies in the north-eastern region during a one-day seminar at Tezpur University on CSIR-Aroma Mission- Aroma Crops for Boosting Rural Economy of North East India.

The aim of the one-day seminar was to initiate a brainstorming exercise for devising strategies to promote cultivation, processing and marketing of high value aromatic and medicinal plants that could empower local farmers/ entrepreneurs of Northeast India. The programme was attended by around 103 participants represented by the farmers of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, scholars, scientists, entrepreneurs and industrialists of the region.

The north-eastern region of India is a treasure house of biodiversity due to its beatific landscape and agro-climatic conditions suitable for promotion, cultivation and processing of aromatic and medicinal plants. During the keynote address, Prof. AK Tripathi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, emphasized on aromatic and medicinal plants suitable for the region that can contribute to high income and employment generation. Prof. AK Tripathi suggested formation of farmers advisory centre (nodal centre) at Tezpur University to facilitate addressing problems faced by the farmers of the north-eastern region in promoting medicinal and aromatic cultivation under CSIR-Aroma Mission.

“The unemployed youths can go for value-addition of essential oils produced by the farmers of Northast India with the technical know-how support from CSIR-laboratories and Tezpur University,” Chief Scientist and Principal Investigator Dr. Alok Kalra said.

During the seminar, participating laboratories under CSIR-Aroma Mission (CSIR-CIMAP, CSIR-IHBT, CSIR-IIIM and CSIR-NEIST,) mutually agreed to provide quality planting material of beneficiaries identified under Aroma Mission. The panel discussion led by Prof. AK Tripathi approved the roadmap for boosting the rural income through cultivation, processing and marketing of aromatic crops in the north-eastern region.

The day-long seminar concluded with the exchange of MoU between TU and CIMAP in the presence of former Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland (Central University) and Professor of Tezpur University, Prof. BK Konwar and Prof. AK Tripathi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP.