India is charting a new agricultural growth path by leveraging high-value aromatic and floricultural crops in the Northeast. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh urged the region’s farmers and entrepreneurs to replicate the “Purple Revolution” pioneered in Jammu & Kashmir, citing significant opportunities for income diversification, circular value chains, and green enterprise development.

Addressing a stakeholder meet under the CSIR–Aroma Mission and CSIR–Floriculture Mission, the Minister highlighted that the Northeast’s biodiversity, climatic advantage, and strong rural workforce position it to become a national hub for plant-based fragrance, wellness, and floriculture industries. Science-driven interventions, he emphasized, are enabling a transition from traditional subsistence farming to entrepreneurial agriculture.

Under the missions spearheaded by CSIR–NEIST, farmers in Mizoram and adjoining states are being introduced to commercially attractive aromatic crops such as lavender, lemongrass, citronella, patchouli, and chamomile, along with premium floriculture varieties including anthurium, marigold, and chrysanthemum. Inputs distributed during the event also included bee boxes, supporting integrated farming models and higher productivity per acre.

The initiative aligns with India’s broader goals under Viksit Bharat @2047, placing rural innovation, women-led enterprises, and value-added agri-industries at the center of regional development. By creating domestic supply chains for essential oils, natural fragrances, and floral products, the missions aim to reduce import dependence while opening up new export avenues.

Training, market linkage support, and technology access remain core pillars of the rollout. As part of its ongoing programme, CSIR–NEIST will conduct hands-on cultivation and processing workshops in key districts, starting with an upcoming session at KVK Mamit, Lengpui, to accelerate skill-building and adoption.

The Northeast’s shift toward high-margin horticulture underscores a growing national consensus: future farm prosperity lies in innovation-driven diversification, where science and local potential converge to unlock global market opportunities.