Aroma Mission: Promoting Aromatic Crops and Essential Oils for Economic Growth
The Aroma Mission was launched by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the former Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, on September 25, 2016, at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) in Lucknow.
The mission has two phases:
Phase 1 began on April 1, 2016, and concluded on March 31, 2020. It focused on 25 different aromatic crops in various regions of India. Through the intervention of CSIR, around 5500 hectares of land were cultivated for these crops. Additionally, 65 distillation units were established, more than 20,000 farmers and entrepreneurs were trained, and 10 new varieties of aromatic plants were developed.
Phase 2 commenced on April 1, 2020, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2025. The goal is to expand the cultivation of these crops by an additional 30,000 hectares through CSIR's intervention, reaching a total of about 60,000 hectares. This phase also aims to produce an extra 700 tonnes of essential oil for industries such as perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The use of these oils in value-added and herbal products is projected to generate a business worth at least 200 crores. Furthermore, the mission emphasizes the establishment of cooperatives for marketing, the promotion of cultivation and processing of high-value medicinal and aromatic plants, the development of superior varieties and agricultural technologies, the setup of distillation units and processing facilities, skill and entrepreneurship development, and value addition and product development from medicinal and aromatic plants.
The main objective of this mission is to promote the cultivation of aromatic crops that produce essential oils highly sought after by the aroma industry.
The mission covers 25 aromatic crops, including lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, vetiver, palmarosa, and more, which can be grown in different agro-climatic zones across India.
It provides farmers across India with infrastructure and technical support for value addition and distillation. The mission also facilitates effective buy-back mechanisms to ensure that farmers receive remunerative prices for their produce.
The mission aims to expand the cultivation of these crops by an additional 30,000 hectares through CSIR's intervention, thereby catalyzing the cultivation of aromatic crops on approximately 60,000 hectares.
Additionally, the mission plans to produce an extra 700 tonnes of essential oil for industries such as perfumery, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The utilization of these oils in value-added and herbal products is projected to generate a business worth at least 200 crores.
The mission is expected to increase farmers' income by cultivating high-value and high-demand aromatic crops, resulting in an annual income of approximately Rs. 30,000 to 60,000 per hectare.
Moreover, the mission aims to train over 45,000 skilled individuals in activities such as multiplying quality planting material, distillation, fractionation, and value addition, as part of the "Skill India" initiative.
The mission is anticipated to benefit more than 25,000 farming families and create employment opportunities of over 10-15 lakh mandays in rural areas.
Scientific interventions made by the mission have specifically targeted regions like Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and others, where farmers face frequent episodes of extreme weather and are prone to high rates of suicides.
The mission also launched its second phase in February 2021, focusing on establishing cooperatives for marketing, promoting cultivation and processing of high-value medicinal and aromatic plants, developing superior varieties and agricultural technologies, setting up distillation units and processing facilities, fostering skill and entrepreneurship development, and enhancing value addition and product development from medicinal and aromatic plants.
Furthermore, the mission initiated the Purple Revolution or Lavender Revolution in Jammu & Kashmir. Lavender cultivation has significantly transformed the lives of farmers in the region, enabling them to earn lucrative profits and improve their livelihoods.
Aroma crops are plants that produce essential oils or other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) known for their pleasant or distinctive scents. These crops are utilized in various industries, including perfumery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flavoring, aromatherapy, and herbal products.
Some of the benefits of aroma crops are as follows:
1. They offer higher returns compared to traditional crops due to their high domestic and export demand, resulting in better prices in the market.
2. They contribute to diversifying the cropping system and increasing farm income.
3. They can be cultivated in different agro-climatic zones of India, including wastelands and marginal lands.
4. They can be intercropped with other crops, improving soil fertility and crop productivity.
5. They provide protection to crops from wild and grazing animals, thanks to their repellent or deterrent effects on pests and predators.
6. They offer environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, and pollution reduction.
7. They provide health benefits, including stress reduction, anxiety relief, pain and inflammation reduction, nausea alleviation, headache relief, and improvements in mood, sleep, immunity, and cognitive functions.
8. They generate social benefits such as employment generation, skill development, entrepreneurship promotion, and women empowerment in rural areas.
