Bhaderwah, J&K: Once a quiet hilly town tucked away in the Chenab Valley, Bhaderwah is now at the heart of India’s rural startup revolution, thanks to its booming lavender economy. Inaugurating the two-day Lavender Festival 2025 in Bhaderwah, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed the town’s transformation as a shining example of grassroots entrepreneurship powered by science, innovation, and determination.
Organized by CSIR-IIIM Jammu, the festival celebrates the success of lavender farming as part of India’s “Purple Revolution.” Addressing a packed gathering of farmers, entrepreneurs, and delegates from across India, Dr. Singh declared, “Lavender has given Bhaderwah a national identity and a national role in India’s economic growth.”
Dr. Singh, who holds multiple key portfolios including Science & Technology and Personnel, said the Agri-Startup model of lavender farming has shattered stereotypes and proven that innovation isn’t limited to tech hubs or foreign-educated elites. “Our youth in Jammu & Kashmir, with guidance from CSIR-IIIM, have shown that passion and perseverance can create sustainable, profitable businesses rooted in agriculture,” he said.
According to the minister, young lavender entrepreneurs in Bhaderwah are now earning an average of ₹65 lakh annually, spurring many to leave conventional careers for farming. He emphasized that lavender cultivation is no longer a niche venture—it is now a mainstream contributor to India’s rural economy.
Dr. Singh credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for catapulting Bhaderwah and its lavender story to the national limelight. “When the Prime Minister spoke about this mission in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’, it gave Bhaderwah the best possible global introduction,” he said.
The PM’s vision for StartUp India and StandUp India, launched from the Red Fort, has deeply resonated in regions that once struggled for attention in India’s development narrative, Dr. Singh added.
The lavender mission in Bhaderwah has sparked interest far beyond Jammu & Kashmir. Currently, 50 distillation units operate in the area, supplying lavender products to markets in Maharashtra and other states. The model has attracted attention from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and even North-Eastern states, whose representatives were present at the festival to explore replication opportunities.
“This is a new paradigm,” Dr. Singh remarked. “A rural, agriculture-based startup revolution that is scalable, sustainable, and inclusive.”
He also announced that the next edition of the festival will include a special exhibition by entrepreneurs aged 60 and above, further challenging the notion that startups are only for the young.
Connecting Bhaderwah’s success to India’s broader economic growth, Dr. Singh said, “India has moved from the 5th to the 4th largest economy globally, and lavender farming is part of the engines driving that rise. When unexplored regions are empowered, they become centers of value addition and job creation.”
In response to doubts about India’s economic strength amid geopolitical tensions, Dr. Singh pointed out that the country’s economy has not only remained resilient but has continued to grow—sending a clear message to skeptics.
The Lavender Festival 2025, led by Dr. Zabeer and the CSIR-IIIM team, drew attendees from across India. Dr. Singh urged all visitors to tour the blooming lavender fields over the next 10–15 days and directly engage with the farmers and entrepreneurs shaping India’s purple revolution.
“Bhaderwah is no longer just a scenic town—it’s an entrepreneurial epicenter. Lavender has become its story, its symbol, and its strength,” Dr. Singh concluded.
