State Correspondents: 03 SEP 2026 5:37PM
Source PIB
A media delegation from Gujarat, coordinated by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Jammu, Government of India, on Thursday visited the Industrial Biotech Park (IBTP), Kathua, to gain first-hand insights into biotechnology, startup incubation, agri-tech and farmer-centric initiatives being undertaken by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu.
The visit was part of the delegation’s four-day press tour of the Jammu region, which included visits to CSIR-IIIM as well as key infrastructure and development projects. The tour provided the visiting journalists an opportunity to understand how scientific research and technological innovations are being translated into applications benefiting farmers, entrepreneurs, industry and society.
At IBTP Kathua, the delegation was briefed about the BioNEST Bioincubation Centre and Centre of Excellence (CoE), which provide technology-based startups and innovators with scientific facilities, mentorship and infrastructure for product development, testing and validation.
Dr. Suphla B. Gupta, Nodal Aroma Mission, briefed the delegation on the Aroma Mission and Floriculture Mission of CSIR-IIIM and the institute’s work with farmers in the cultivation and promotion of medicinal and aromatic plants.
She highlighted the promotion of lavender cultivation under the Purple Revolution, along with interventions covering quality planting material, scientific cultivation practices, post-harvest management, processing and value addition.
“CSIR-IIIM’s Aroma Mission has helped expand lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir, with cultivation now spread over around 1,500 hectares and benefiting more than 5,000 farmers,” she said.
Dr. Gupta explained that the Aroma Mission adopts a value-chain approach extending beyond cultivation to include quality planting material, improved farm practices, harvesting, processing, distillation and marketing of value-added products.
“The institute has facilitated lavender oil production and value addition, with annual extraction crossing 4,000 kg of lavender oil, while revenues generated through the lavender ecosystem have exceeded ₹18 crore,” she added.
She said the availability of processing and distillation facilities had enabled farmers and local entrepreneurs to derive greater economic value from aromatic crops. The initiative has also opened up opportunities in oil extraction, product development, packaging and marketing, thereby creating additional avenues for employment and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Gupta further highlighted CSIR-IIIM’s efforts to promote integrated farming practices, including the integration of beekeeping with aromatic and other crops. She noted that, besides supporting pollination, beekeeping could provide farmers with an additional source of income.
Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Saurabh Saran, PI, BioNEST IIIM-TBI, outlined the incubation and entrepreneurship activities being undertaken through the institute.
Dr. Amit Nargotra, Scientist-F, briefed the delegation on the scope of Artificial Intelligence-driven innovations and the potential of emerging technologies in scientific research, innovation and technology development.
Earlier, Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Mir, CEO, BioNEST Bioincubation Centre, IBTP, delivered a detailed presentation on the BioNEST Bioincubation Centre and the Centre of Excellence at Kathua. He apprised the visiting journalists of the facilities available for emerging entrepreneurs and innovators, particularly in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, nutrition and health.
“IBTP Kathua has an Agri, Nutri and HealthTech Bio Incubator that is supporting technology-driven ventures in agriculture, nutrition and healthcare. The facility is also supporting the establishment of a Centre of Excellence aimed at strengthening research and innovation infrastructure in the region,” he said.
The visiting journalists subsequently toured the laboratory facilities at IBTP, where scientists explained the research and technology-development infrastructure available at the park. The delegation also visited the Biofarm at IBTP, where they witnessed field-level applications of scientific interventions and gained an understanding of the institute’s efforts to connect laboratory research with agricultural practices.
The four-day visit concluded successfully with the delegation visiting several prominent infrastructure, scientific and development landmarks in the Jammu region, including the Chenab Bridge, Anji Bridge, Salal Hydroelectric Power Station in Reasi, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, Syama Prasad Mukherjee Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, CSIR-IIIM and IIT Jammu.
The tour provided the media representatives with an overview of the region’s scientific capabilities, emerging entrepreneurship ecosystem, modern infrastructure and initiatives aimed at translating research and innovation into tangible socio-economic benefits.
