12 August 2026, Dhemaji, Assam
ICAR–Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, Anand, organised a one-day training programme on “Technologies in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Area Expansion in the NEH Region” under the North Eastern Hill (NEH) component for community empowerment at ICAR–IARI, Dhemaji, Assam, today.
The programme aimed to enhance farmers’ knowledge of medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) cultivation, value-chain opportunities and emerging agribusiness prospects, with a focus on strengthening livelihoods in the North Eastern Hill region.
The programme commenced with a welcome address to the participating farmers and resource persons, followed by an overview of the role of agricultural research and institutions in promoting food and nutrition security. The participants were sensitised to the growing market potential of MAPs and emerging opportunities in MAP-based agribusiness, particularly in the NEH region. The importance of developing MAP-based enterprises and strengthening market linkages was also emphasised.
An overview of the NEH scheme, its objectives and community empowerment initiatives was presented during the programme. The technical sessions covered agro-techniques for selected medicinal and aromatic plants, Geographical Indication (GI) tagging and its significance for MAPs, farmers’ rights, and the importance of traditional knowledge associated with medicinal and aromatic plants.
The programme also highlighted the economic potential of MAP cultivation in the NEH region, particularly its role in strengthening the horticulture sector and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers.
A total of 200 farmers, including 135 women and 65 men, from nearby villages of the NEH region participated in the training. As part of the programme, farm inputs, including seed kits and planting material of medicinal and aromatic plants, along with registration kits, were distributed among the beneficiary farmers to facilitate the adoption and expansion of MAP cultivation.
Two farmers were also felicitated for their contribution to medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation, recognising their efforts in promoting MAP-based farming in the region.
The training served as a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building, with an emphasis on enabling farmers to adopt improved MAP technologies and explore new avenues for enterprise development and enhanced income generation.
(Source: ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Anand)
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