Lok Sabha Question No. 5168 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Aroma Mission in the North Eastern States
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

## DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5168 (ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025)

## AROMA MISSION IN THE NORTH EASTERN STATES

5168.  Shri Baijayant Panda:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the key achievements of the Aroma Mission in the North Eastern States, particularly in terms of farmer benefits, employment generation and industrial linkages;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  expand  the  Aroma Mission and Floriculture Mission to additional districts in the region, if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  specific  role  of  CSIR-NEIST  in  supporting  farmers  and entrepreneurs  under  these  initiatives including  the  number  of essential oil distillation units established and future targets;
- (d) whether the Government is considering incentives or subsidies to  enhance  private  sector  participation  in  the  aromatic  plants industry in the North East; and
- (e) the steps being taken under the Act East Policy to integrate the North East's aromatic products with international markets thereby boosting exports and regional economic development?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- a) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is implementing 'CSIR-Aroma Mission', in all the north Eastern States from very first

phase started during 2017. The following are few key achievements under the project in North Eastern States:

-  More than 3,000 hectares of land has been brought under aromatic crop cultivation, ensuring optimal utilization of fallow, undulating, marginal, and unutilized lands.
-  Cultivation  of  high-yielding  varieties  and  value  addition  through essential oil production has resulted  in  enhanced  income  levels for  farmers  (Rs. 40,000 - Rs. 60,000/ha/year), providing them with an economically viable alternative to the traditional crops like rice.
-  More than 140 awareness-cum-training programs have been conducted, directly benefiting over 10,000 farmers. These programs educated  farmers  on  best  practices  for  cultivation,  harvesting, processing, and marketing of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs).
-  A total of 90 essential oil distillation units have been installed across Northeast  India,  bridging  the  gap  between  farm  production  and industry  requirements.  These  units  support  value  addition  at  the local  level,  making  the  region  a  key  player  in  the  essential  oils market.
-  The  expansion  of  aromatic  crop  cultivation  and  establishment  of essential oil distillation units on a cluster basis has led to significant employment  generation (10 lakh man-days), both in farming activities and in post-harvest processing sectors.
-  By  providing  planting  material  and  infrastructure  support,  the mission  has  empowered  about  25  Self-Help  Groups  (SHGs)  and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to engage in entrepreneurship, processing,  and  marketing  of  aromatic  products,  fostering  selfreliance and rural entrepreneurship.
- b) CSIR is implementing Aroma Mission activities in all the north Eastern States.  The  expansion  of  area  under  the  cultivation  of  aroma  and floriculture crops is an inbuilt part of the mission project.
- c) CSIR - North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat  has  been  actively  involved  in  the  CSIR-Aroma  Mission  since Phase-I,  playing  a  pivotal  role  in  promoting  aromatic  crops  across Northeast India. The significant contribution of CSIR-NEIST in supporting farmers and entrepreneurs is as under:
-  The institute has successfully provided 1.51 crore Quality Planting Material (QPM) of various targeted crops, including: Lemongrass,
- Java Citronella, Patchouli, Kaempferia galanga, Chamomile, Geranium, Rosemary, Lavender.
- Agarwood,
-  Under the CSIR-Aroma  Mission, CSIR-NEIST has successfully developed, registered, and commercialized eight high-yielding varieties of targeted aromatic crops. These varieties are specifically designed to thrive in the agro-climatic conditions of Northeast India and have played a significant role  in  enhancing  farmers'  income, promoting sustainable agriculture, and strengthening the aromatic crop value chain in the region.
-  CSIR-NEIST has actively facilitated linkages between farmers and industries, ensuring better market access and creating a sustainable farm-to-industry ecosystem in the Northeast. So far, we have  connected  more  than  10  different  aromatic  industries  to procure  the  essential  oils  and  other  products  of  aroma  mission directly from the farmers eliminating middleman in the chain. A total of 39 essential oil distillation units have been provided to farmers, SHGs,  and  FPCs  on  cluster  basis  to  support  value  addition  and improve livelihood opportunities.
-  To enhance the scientific foundation of aromatic crop research and development, CSIR-NEIST has published more than 65 high-quality SCI-rated  research  papers  under  this  project.  These  publications contribute to advancing knowledge in the areas of crop improvement, essential oil extraction technologies, value addition, and sustainable farming practices.
-  CSIR-NEIST has undertaken region-specific standardization of agrotechnologies for key aromatic crops such as Kaempferia galanga, Homolomena aromatica, and Chamomile to optimize their cultivation in Northeast India's agro-climatic conditions.
- d) Under CSIR Aroma Mission, the quality planting material is provided to farmers at free of cost along with technical knowhow on cultivation, post-harvest, and on-the-farm processing. Regular industry meets are organized to assess the market demand and connecting buyers with the farmers.  In January 2025, CSIR-NEIST successfully organized the NORTH  EAST  AROMA  Conclave  2025,  bringing  together  over  20 aromatic  industries  and  about  180  aromatic  farmers  from  across Northeast  India.  The  conclave  resulted  in  the  finalization  of  an effective buyback mechanism, strengthening farmer-industry partnerships,  ensuring  stable  market  access  for  farmers  as  well  as source of reliable raw materials for the industries.  Industries like M/s.
- Ajmal  Perfumers,  Mumbai,  M/s.  Ashri  Naturals,  Barabanki,  Uttar Pradesh, M/s. Aroma India, Guwahati, M/s. Yethawat Essential Oil, Agra and Aromatic and Allied Pvt. Ltd., Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh have signed MoU for direct procurement of essential oil produced by farmers of NER.
- e) CSIR is closely working with the Government of Manipur, Government of Meghalaya (Meghalaya Basin Development Authority), and Government of Nagaland (Nagaland Bioresources Mission) including different Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) and agencies in the region under CSIR Aroma Mission.

CSIR  participated  in  the  India-United  Kingdom  Virtual  Buyer-Seller Meet on Natural Products under NPNP (National programme on Natural Products) scheme held on 4th August 2022, organized by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. CSIR presented various technologies/products based on aroma and floriculture crops to  explore  the  export  potential  of  natural  products  produced  under these Mission Programmes.

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