In a major boost to the farmers’ welfare, Uttarakhand CM Dhami Dehradun has announced that the Himalayan state is developing six Aroma Valleys, which will generate over 70,000 employment opportunities through medical farming as reported by ANI.
Asserting the imperatives, CM said, “Six Aroma Valleys are being developed in the state. Through this, more than 37 thousand farmers will be benefited and over 70 thousand employment opportunities will be created.”
Why is Uttarakhand developing Aromatic Valleys?
Aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict by growing aromatic plants, Aroma Valleys project in Uttarakhand will promote aromatic and medicinal farming. Animals like monkeys, bears, sheeps, and elephants, which usually raid crop fields will find themselves diverted due the intense fragrance of aromatic plants like Damask rose, lemongrass or Japanese mint – causing irritation to the animals.
On the welfare front, the aromatic plants are expected to bring in more profits for farmers as compared to traditional crops like wheat and pulses. There is a rapid and strong demand for aromatic products, especially in the luxury segment which farmers can cater through the aromatic farming.
Notably, Himalayan states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are the fountainhead for aromatic start-ups due to the favorable geography and climatic conditions in the hilly regions. Further, the upper areas favor the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants which can be developed into Agri-tech enterprises.
India’s first Aroma park in Kashipur
Earlier in June this year, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami performed the ground breaking ceremony of India’s first Aroma Park in Kashipur and allotted plots for the project expansion.
Speaking on the occasion, Dhami mentioned that Uttarakhand is the first state in the country, in which a special and dedicated institution ‘Aromatic Plant Center’ (CAP) has been established by the government at the state level for the development of the aromatic sector.
The first Aroma park in the country was established by CAP, Selaqui, Fragrance Trade Association, Delhi and Essential Oil Association of India, Noida and SIDCUL.
“In the last two decades, the state government has made a lot of development in the aromatic sector through CAP through which more than 24,000 farmers have been associated with aromatic farming in the state. Clusters of aromatic farming have been developed by the government to promote the aromatic sector in the state,” the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand mentioned during the ceremony.
It is noteworthy that the government of Uttarakhand has embraced the Aroma Park Policy, 2018, following a proposal from FTA and Essential oil association of India (EOAI). In December 2021, PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for 46 aroma and perfumery industries in Kashipur industrial area.