Purple Revolution: Recently, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science and Technology, MoS PMO, Space and Atomic Energy, Dr.Jitendra Singh said that the " Purple Revolution" originating from Jammu and Kashmir offers attractive Startup avenues and those who have entered the lavender sector are making a fortune out of it, the minister was also informed that lavender has been designated as a Doda brand product.

He said, Doda is the birthplace of India's Purple Revolution (Aroma) mission and lavender can be promoted under 'One District, One Product' initiative of the Modi Government to attract Agri-Startups, entrepreneurs and farmers.

What is Purple Revolution?

The Union Ministry of Science and Technology initiated the Purple or Lavender Revolution by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR) Aroma Mission.The aim of this mission is to increase the plantation of lavender in Jammu and Kashmir, The aim was to take advantage of the location's assets in order to increase the domestic market and increase the farmer's revenue.

Lavender farming is now done across the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Srinagar, Pulwama, Kupwara, Bandipora, Budgam, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Kulgam, and Baramulla districts, whereas Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir is the birthplace of India's Purple Revolution.

This was the first-time farmers had received free saplings of lavender to fulfil the goal. Before that, the farmers were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.

Purple Revolution: Aroma Mission

• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Aroma Mission 's objective is to bring some transformational change in the aroma sector by implementing targeted interventions in agricultural, processing, and product development in order to increase the productivity of the aroma industry and rural employment.
• The objective of this mission is to encourage the development of aromatic crops for the production of essential oils, which are in high demand.
• It is predicted that Indian farmers and the production of essential oils and their exports will make aroma businesses world-wide.
• Nowadays, the Aroma mission is attracting farmers and entrepreneurs from all around the country.
• CSIR helped in the cultivation of 6000 hectares of land in 46 aspirational districts across the country during Phase 1. In this process, around 44,000 employees were trained. The CSIR has started Phase 2 of the Aroma Mission, which will include over 45 thousand skilled human resources and help over 75 thousand farmers and their families.

Purple Revolution: Benefits to Startups

Aroma, or you can say lavender cultivation or purple farming, has emerged as a popular agricultural startup option. It has gradually increased the employment rate in rural areas, igniting many entrepreneurs for the production of aromatic essential oils and other aromatic products.

It has also lessened the import of essential and aromatic oils. According to the data, it was observed that the Aroma Mission is cultivating essential medicinal and aromatic plants on 6,000 hectares of land. In the last two years, it has produced over 500 tones of essential oils, which cost around Rs. 60 crores.

Purple Revolution: Significance of Lavender Crop

Earlier, India did not grow lavender much, but in the last several years the CSIR has begun to expand lavender farming. Lavender farming as an aromatic crop is quickly catching on in the Kashmir Himalayas. Lavender is widely used in the perfume industry all around the world. The oil produced by the lavender's flowers can fetch upwards of Rs. 10,000 per killogramme. Lavender can survive in poor soil condition. It is also resistant to pests and diseases. It can produce oil after 3 years of growth and it can last for around two decades.

Farmers are earning five times more money by doing lavender farming on the same land. This crop is also providing an opportunity to those people who are uneducated. Overall, this high-value crop is good for the development of holistic Kashmir.

Purple Revolution: Agencies involved

The nodal laboratory is CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants CSIR-CIMA), Lucknow the participating laboratories are CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu; etc.