District level Committee discusses Draft Export Plan for Reasi

REASI, July 15: Deputy Commissioner, Babila Rakwal today chaired a meeting of the District Export Committee to discuss the modalities for formulating a detailed District Export Action Plan to Develop Reasi as an Export Hub.

         At the outset, the General Manager DIC Reasi (Member Secretary of District Level Export Promotion Committee) informed about the agenda of the meeting. He requested the participants to study the District Export Action Plan and explore the sector wise export potential to realize the Prime Minister’s vision to transform every district into an export hub.

           The consultant from Jammu and Kashmir Trade Promotion Organization, (JKTPO) presented a PPT and draft district Export action plan Reasi, detailing both hard and soft measures required to increase exports of products identified under ODOP, i.e. aromatic plants, and products identified under District as Export Hub, i.e. spices, which include ginger, garlic and turmeric.

         An extensive discussion was held on promotion of cultivation of lemongrass and lavender, and extraction of oils to increase the income of the local farmers. It was informed that essential oil has a bright future ahead of it due to its wide range of applications in people’s daily lives. These are components of cosmetics, soaps, pharmaceuticals, perfumeries, confectionery, ice cream, carbonated water, disinfectants, agarbathis and a variety of related products.

         The DDC Reasi stressed to make Reasi the center of lemongrass oil extraction by involving more farmers and increasing the area under cultivation. She stressed increasing the cultivated area to reach the goal of 100 hectares for both products, i.e. aromatic plants and spices.

        The DDC also stressed that lemongrass has become a new profitable business for farmers in Reasi district as the oil extracted from it is in high demand in the market. The commercial cultivation of lemongrass is also a great help for farmers. She informed the committee that three villages of Reasi fall under rural tourism that can be explored to attract tourists interested in exploring rural Reasi and its culture and cuisine.

          The DDC Reasi instructed the Committee members to go through the draft export action plan prepared by JKTPO and make some valuable suggestions to be included before it is submitted to the committee.

         Sr. Principal Scientist IIIM Jammu gave various inputs on cultivation of lemongrass plants, techniques to obtain high quality lemongrass oil, laboratory testing of the oil and certification so that it can meet the international standard and make it of export quality.

        Sr Principal Scientist Dr. Suphla Gupta, IIIM Jammu, CAO JKTPO Imran Mahmood, General Manager DIC Masood Ahmad Bichoo, Chief Agriculture Officer  Harbans Lal, and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.