Under the CSIR-Aroma Mission Phase-III, the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, successfully organized a Five-Day Training cum Awareness Programme from 29th July to 2nd August 2025 in the Hisar and Rohtak districts of Haryana. The initiative aimed at promoting rural empowerment through the scientific cultivation, processing, and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), with a special focus on Tulsi (Ocimum spp.). Over 45 farmers participated in the program, representing from different villages from Hisar and Rohtak districts. The program included expert’s lectures, live demonstrations, exposure visits, and interactive sessions covering technical, entrepreneurial, and policy aspects of MAPs cultivation. The program focused on promoting Basil Tulsi (Indian Basil) cultivation, Nursery raising techniques, and farmer experiences in Tulsi cultivation.

A key technical session was held at the Saina Nehwal Training Centre, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, where Dr. Siya Ram Meena delivered an insightful lecture on the scientific cultivation of Ocimum, farm mechanization techniques, and relevant government support schemes. Farmers were taken to visit Madina village in Rohtak to observe a working distillation unit and lemongrass fields. During the entire program Dr. Mohit Kumar and Mr. Vinod Fogawat (Project Associates, IIIM) were actively engaged to manage the events, contributing to the success of the awareness initiative.