One-day Skill-cum-Technical Training Program to Promote Sustainable Cultivation of Menthol Mint under Haleon UK Trading Limited sponsored project (MintUP)

During the program, representatives from various countries were welcomed by farmers, women self-help groups, and entrepreneurs, and it was coordinated by Dr. Rajesh K. Verma, Senior Principal Scientist. In the opening session, Dr. Manoj Semwal, Senior Principal Scientist, provided a brief overview of the program. In his inaugural speech, Dr. Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), encouraged farmers to adopt advanced technical training and natural farming practices. He also highlighted how sustainable agriculture could strengthen the agriculture sector, leading to increased productivity and environmental balance.

He also highlighted how farmers would benefit by the high yielding variety (CIM-Unnati) of menthol mint, improved agro-technologies for reducing the inputs and improve the yield, drone-based crop monitoring and spraying at farmers’ field, solar distillation unit to reduce the carbon footprints and also waste to wealth initiatives like vermicomposting from distillation waste.

On this occasion, representatives from Haleon UK Trading, GIZ Germany, Symrise, and Synergy Technofin, from various countries, addressed farmers and entrepreneurs. These representatives shared valuable insights on sustainable farming, organic agricultural products, and new technologies for farmers. They also explained how these collaborations could help farmers benefit from new markets and business opportunities.

The inauguration of the vermi-compost unit and mushroom unit also took place during the event. Additionally, Dr. Ashween Deepak Nannaware, Principal Scientist, provided detailed information about the Hybrid Solar Distillation Unit. Director Prabodh Kumar Trivedi and the Haleon team collaborated for creation of Vermi-pit was also activated with worms to begin the decomposition process. Various initiatives by CIMAP, such as drone flying, mushroom products, and other agricultural products, were also showcased in today’s program.