JAMMU, JANUARY 11, 2026 — In a significant move toward science-led agrarian transformation, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Jammu is boosting rural livelihoods through its CSIR Floriculture Mission.
By providing end-to-end technical support and institutional handholding, the mission is successfully transitioning farmers in Jammu and Kashmir from traditional cropping to high-value, market-oriented agri-bio enterprises.
Under the strategic mentorship of Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, the institute has emerged as a catalyst for technology-enabled rural entrepreneurship, effectively translating laboratory innovations into field-level success.To further enhance regional capacity, CSIR-IIIM recently organized a technology dissemination workshop that brought together 230 farmers from both rainfed and irrigated agricultural zones.
Participants were provided with quality planting materials for high-yielding marigold varieties and received intensive training on the entire production-to-market continuum, including scientific nursery raising, nutrient management, and post-harvest handling.
The initiative specifically targets high-demand ornamental crops such as Lilium, Marigold, Gladiolus, and Carnation, which offer immense profitability due to the region’s diverse agro-climatic conditions.
Parallel to floral cultivation, the program focused extensively on integrated apiculture models, highlighting the role of scientific beekeeping in enhancing pollination efficiency and crop productivity.
Farmers were trained in colony management, migratory beekeeping, and the value addition of honey and beeswax to diversify their income streams. Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu, emphasized that this holistic approach—combining quality germplasm with efficient market linkages—has already led to a manifold increase in farm income.
By addressing infrastructure needs like protected cultivation and cold chain integration, the mission is successfully transforming traditional farmers into competitive agri-entrepreneurs and ensuring sustainable economic growth for the region.
