Purple Revolution

In News

• Recently, the Union Minister of India said that “Purple Revolution” has shifted focus to Agri-tech StartUps.

About Purple Revolution

• The Purple or Lavender Revolution was launched by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology through the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Aroma Mission.
• Aim: It aimed at increasing lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• Focus: The mission’s focus was to take advantage of the geographical conditions and increase the homegrown market along with farmers’ income.
• Under the mission, first-time farmers were given free lavender saplings, while those who had cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.
• It will help in providing means of livelihood to budding farmers and agri-entrepreneurs and give a boost to Start-Up India campaign and promote a spirit of entrepreneurship in the region.

Significance

• Farmers and industry: It is expected to enable Indian farmers and the aroma industry to become global leaders in the production and export of some other essential oils on the pattern of menthol mint.
  • Start-ups: Lavender farmers and start-ups will be felicitated. 
  • Farmer’s income: It is expected to provide substantial benefits to the farmers in achieving higher profits, utilisation of wastelands and protection of their crops from a wild and grazing animal
• Employment: 
  • Lavender cultivation has employed about 5,000 farmers and young entrepreneurs in geographically remote areas of J&K. 
  • More than 25,000 farming families would be directly benefited and an employment of more than 10-15 lakhs mandays will be generated in rural areas.
• Aromatic crops: 
  • It will promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry.
  • Perfume production: This will help in production of an additional 700 tonnes of essential oil for perfumery, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, and use of these oils in value addition and herbal products would generate a business of at least 200 crores.

Source: PIB