Training program on Aromatic Crop Cultivation and Value addition held at DMAPR

Training programme to the farmers of Gujarat state on Cultivation of Aromatic Crops & Value Addition Technologies was held on 30^th of November 2009 at Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), Boriavi, Anand in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Mehsana. The programme was sponsored by the Central Sector Scheme.

Training was imparted to 55 farmers and cultivators of Mehsana district and a few from other districts of Gujarat on the cultivation of aromatic crops and their value addition techniques. The chief guest of the inaugural function, Dr. S.N. Tyagi, IFS., (CEO, State Medicinal Plants Board), addressed the farmers and encouraged the farmers to take up cultivation of the aromatic crops and the explained in details the efforts undertaken by State Medicinal Plants Board and other government agencies for the promotion and support available for the cultivators of medicinal and aromatic crops . Dr. Satyabrata Maiti, Director, DMAPR briefed the activities and facilities developed by institute for the both R&D and analytical needs of the all the stake holders. He specifically highlighted the importance of GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) and invited the farmers to form SHG for keeping records for documenting that is needed for certification of GAP produce. The technical session comprised of presentations by the Dr. Kunal Mandal, Dr. Vipin Chaudhary and Sri. Saravanan Raju (DMAPR) and Dr. Manish Patel (KVK, Mehsana) on various aspects related to Trade, cultivation of aromatic crops and value addition of essential oil. After the technical session, farmers visited the analytical laboratories where they were briefed about the analysis of essential oils and facilities available at the institute for testing. A demo on extraction of essential oil in pilot plant was also held for educating the farmers on all the aspects of essential oil extraction and down stream processing. The programme ended with concluding remarks and feedbacks from farmers.