Workshop held on benefits of Lavender

By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Mussoorie, 24 Mar: Himalaya Jyoti Samiti, Mussoorie, and Dr Om Prakash Duggal Charities, Mussoorie, jointly organised an informative and economically beneficial workshop on cultivation, processing and value added utilisation of the aromatic plant, Lavender. It was inaugurated by Municipal Chairman Anuj Gupta by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Dr Jyoti Marwah, Director, Mussoorie Institute of Fragrance & Flavour and High Altitude Wellness Center, said that Lavender is one of the most valued high altitude aromatic plants with many benefits for the young and the old. It is a perennial plant that yields an essential oil which has unique applications as a fragrance and flavour. Owing to many positive health benefits in conditions of stress, tension and anxiety, lavender oil and its value added products are very popular amongst consumers at the national and international level. The Lavender Oil market is estimated to surpass US$ 124 million by 2024. She said that Uttarakhand is bestowed with many species of medicinal and aromatic plants. Lavender has found a home in Jammu and Kashmir but the people of Uttarakhand are deprived of its economic benefits as they are oblivious of its merits as a business enabler and live hoods generator. Hence this workshop aimed to enhance prospects for lavender farming and processing in Uttarakhand and popularise Lavender.
She added that the workshop’s technical session would equip the participants with relevant knowledge and skill for cultivation, processing and value addition of lavender for production of essential oil and use is making various aromatherapy and industrial products for daily use in skin care, toiletries, cosmetics, beverages, confectionery and others.
Present on the occasion were Dr VK Varshney, Scientist-G, Chemistry & Bio-prospecting Division, FRI, Dr Arjun Singh Parihar, Assistant Floriculture Officer, Bharat Bhushan, progressive farmer, Dr Ela Athaeya, Botanist and Academic Consultant, Shanan Singh, Jashoda Sharma, Ramesh Chamoli, Sandya Ani and many others.