Seven-day skill development programme on “Value Addition of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for health security and entrepreneurial opportunity” concludes at JU

Jammu Jan 21: The seven-day skill development programme on “Value Addition of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for health security and entrepreneurial opportunity” organized by Regional cum Facilitation Centre, Northern Region-II, National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH, GoI under the aegis of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir in collaboration with Department of Botany, University of Jammu concluded today i.e., January 21, 2024. The Valedictory Function held today started with the welcome address by Professor Susheel Verma, Head, Department of Botany, University of Jammu. While welcoming all the guests, participants and others, he applauded the efforts of RCFC NR-II for collaborating with the Department of Botany, University of Jammu and organizing this skill programme in its premises. 

Sh. Imam Din (JKAS), Managing Director, J&K Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation, was the Chief Guest of the function.  He appreciated the efforts of the programme in inculcating among the participants the entrepreneurial skills and knowledge about value addition of medicinal and aromatic plants for nutrition and health security, and raising start-ups.

Earlier, Prof. Sheikh Bilal Ahmed, Regional Director, RCFC NR-II, SKUAST-K gave a comprehensive overview of a variety of interactive sessions organised during this training programme. The emphasis laid by resource persons on the immense potential of medicinal and aromatic plants in developing a diverse range of products and thereby providing entrepreneurial opportunities was highly motivating as also appreciable. 

Prof. Veenu Kaul, the Coordinator of this programme, also highlighted the vital role of Medicinal and Aromatic plants endemic to Jammu and Kashmir for livelihood generation and health security and emphasized upon the significance of value addition in upskilling farmers and enhancing their income.   

Twenty-five participants from the Department of Botany and School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu were the stakeholders. A total of 17 lectures and two field visits comprised the 7-day skill development programme. During this workshop, the eminent resource persons from SKUAST-J, SKUAST-K, Central University of Jammu, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Jammu and Reasi), Horticulture and Handicrafts Department (Kathua), Regional Ayurveda Research Institute (Jammu), CSIR-IIIM (Jammu), JK Entrepreneurship Development Institute and State/UT Medicinal Plants Board (Jammu) shared their expertise with the participants. The programme motivated stakeholders to work towards setting up small entrepreneurial set ups and become job providers rather than job seekers. Many of them have started thinking along those lines with few having prepared projects as conveyed by them in their feedback.  

The valedictory function was also attended by the other Faculty members of Department of Botany, sister Departments of Faculty of Life Sciences and officials of RCFC-NRII. 

Dr. Geeta Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany and co-coordinator of this programme presented a formal vote of thanks. Ms. Hrishi Manchanda, research scholar of Department of Botany, conducted the proceedings.