CSIR-IHBT Collaborates with FPO to Provide 10 Lakh Lemongrass Slips, 75 Kg Marigold Seeds to Farmers

CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, and Dev Surya Himalayan Organic Pvt Ltd, Palampur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the cultivation of lemongrass and aromatic marigold among farmers of local villages.

The CSIR-IHBT will provide 10 lakh lemongrass slips and 75 kg of seeds of aromatic marigold under the CSIR Aroma Mission. The institute in collaboration with Dev Surya Himalayan Organic aims to cover 336 acres of 1,209 farmers.

CSIR-IHBT Director Sanjay Kumar said, “the Aroma Mission was started in 2017 to promote the cultivation of high-value aromatic crops for the socio-economic uplift of farmers and employment generation in rural areas. Under Phase II of the Aroma Mission, the CSIR-IHBT is committed to bringing 3,000 hectares under the cultivation of aromatic crops in the region”, he added.

Lemongrass, whose cultivation is being promoted under this mission, is an easy-to-grow and largely in demand.

It offers a good income to the farmers; the lemongrass oil is purchased by industries making cosmetics, soap, oil & pharmaceuticals. The demand encourages farmers to take up cultivation of the aromatic plant.

Adding to this the CSIR IHBT is also going to distribute marigold seeds which are equally profitable to grow. It requires less investment to grow these plants.

CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) is situated at Palampur (HP) in the lap of western Himalayas with a vision “to be a global leader on technologies for boosting bioeconomy through sustainable utilization of Himalayan bioresources”. While Devsurya Himalaya Organic Farmers Producer Company Limited is a Private Company incorporated on 14 June 2021.

The IHBT institute believes in discovery, innovation, development and dissemination of the processes, products and technologies from Himalayan bioresources for society, industry, environment, and academia.