The Jammu and Kashmir administration is accelerating its push to transform the Union Territory into a leading hub for medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo calling for a science-backed, commercially scalable strategy to unlock the sector’s substantial economic and livelihood potential.

During a high-level meeting with the Forest Department, Agriculture Production Department, and CSIR–Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Jammu, the Chief Secretary emphasised that despite J&K’s rich biodiversity, the region currently generates only around ₹12 crore annually from MAPs—far below its domestic and global potential. He stressed the need for a unified, cross-departmental approach to accelerate cultivation, conservation and value-chain development.

Policy Reforms and R&D Strengthening on the Horizon

The administration is preparing targeted amendments to the J&K Minor Forest Produce Policy-2022 to drive wider farmer participation, bolster research and development infrastructure, and enhance market access for MAP growers. Departments were directed to prioritise species selection, agro-climatic mapping, and development of profitable cultivation models suited to the region’s varied terrain.

The Forest Department will lead efforts on propagation, farmer skilling and model development, while the Agriculture Production Department will identify high-demand MAP species from the UT’s pool of more than 1,100 known varieties and expand extension and value-addition initiatives.

CSIR-IIIM and SKUAST to Anchor Scientific and Technical Support

CSIR-IIIM and SKUAST have been assigned a central role in advancing technical expertise, establishing germplasm banks, facilitating technology transfer, and creating Centres of Excellence to drive innovation and quality standards in the MAP ecosystem.

Highlighting the global potential, CSIR-IIIM Director Dr. Zabeer Ahmad noted that the worldwide MAP market is expected to cross USD 650 billion by 2030, positioning J&K to capture a significant share if scientific cultivation and industrial-scale processing are prioritised. He outlined strategic plans, including land zonation using degraded forest areas and marginal lands, and the development of aroma and phyto-pharma clusters across Jammu, Kashmir, and the Chenab Valley.

Progress Under HADP and Expanding Farmer Participation

Presenting recent milestones, Sandeep Kumar, Managing Director of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), shared that 28 MAP clusters involving nearly 1,400 farmers have already been established, with more than 5,300 farmers trained over the past two years. High-value MAP species identified for large-scale cultivation currently command market prices ranging from ₹100 to ₹1 lakh per kg, underscoring the significant income potential for growers.

Also read: Strengthening Global Pharma Influence: EU’s Critical Medicines Act Becomes a Strategic Opening for India

A Bio-Economy Opportunity for Pharma and Phyto-Industry Stakeholders

With a robust policy framework, scientific backing, and expanding farmer networks, J&K is positioning itself to become one of India’s most competitive regions for MAP-driven bio-economy growth. The renewed focus on integrating R&D, sustainable cultivation models, and industry-oriented clusters presents major opportunities for pharmaceutical, phytopharmaceutical, nutraceutical and aroma-based industries seeking reliable, high-quality sourcing ecosystems.

The roadmap sets a strong foundation for J&K to emerge as a strategic contributor to India’s growing natural-products economy while strengthening rural livelihoods and boosting industry-ready MAP supply chains.

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