Revitalizing Jammu & Kashmir's Medicinal Plant Economy: A New Dawn

The Jammu and Kashmir government is implementing reforms in the medicinal and aromatic plants sector to boost economic and livelihood opportunities. Emphasizing scientific and commercial viability, they aim to enhance farmer participation, strengthen R&D, and improve market links. The global MAP market offers significant potential for the region.

In a bid to revitalize the medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) sector, the Jammu and Kashmir government is rolling out major reforms aimed at harnessing the economic potential of these resources. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has called for a scientifically-driven strategy to make the sector commercially viable.

A joint meeting chaired by Dulloo with the forest and agriculture departments, alongside the CSIR-Institute of Integrative Medicine, laid out a roadmap to bolster commercial cultivation and promotion of MAPs. The goal is to escalate J-K's annual revenue from the sector, currently at a modest Rs 12 crore.

Key strategies include propagation of planting material, farmer training, and creation of aroma clusters in targeted regions. With the MAP market set to surpass USD 650 billion globally by 2030, initiatives such as these signal a significant economic opportunity for Jammu and Kashmir.

(With inputs from agencies.)