On August 18, 2025, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, successfully organized an Awareness and Quality Planting Material (QPM) Distribution Program at Motihari District in Bihar. This initiative was designed to educate and empower local farmers by introducing them to the potential of Lemongrass & Rosagrass cultivation as a high-value, sustainable, and income-generating crop. The program’s main objective was to provide farmers with in-depth knowledge of Lemongrass & Rosagrass farming techniques, its economic prospects, and access to high-quality planting material to encourage its widespread adoption in the region.

During the awareness session, experts from CSIR-IIIM delivered detailed presentations on the advantages of Lemongrass & Rosagrass cultivation, including its adaptability to local agro-climatic conditions, low input requirements, and high demand in the aroma and essential oil industries. Farmers were informed about the various industrial and commercial applications of Lemongrass & Rosagrass, particularly its use in producing essential oils, perfumery, and cosmetics, which offer lucrative market opportunities. The session also covered key agronomic practices, such as land preparation, irrigation scheduling, nutrient management, and integrated pest control measures, ensuring that farmers gain a holistic understanding of sustainable Lemongrass & Rosagrass cultivation.

A total of 65 farmers from different parts of Motihari District actively participated in the program. They engaged in interactive discussions with scientists and agricultural experts to address their queries and learn about practical challenges and solutions related to Lemongrass & Rosagrass farming. The participants were also introduced to modern cultivation and harvesting techniques, as well as post-harvest processing methods that can help improve oil yield and quality, thereby maximizing profitability.

As a major highlight of the event, 6 lakh high-quality Lemongrass plants & 2 lakh Rosagrass plants were distributed among the participating farmers during the QPM distribution session. This large-scale distribution aimed to facilitate immediate field-level implementation of the knowledge shared during the training, ensuring that farmers could begin cultivation with certified, disease-free, and high-yield planting material.