Purple Revolution, Meaning, Objective, Benefits, Role

Purple Revolution

Purple Revolution, also known as the Lavender Revolution, is an agricultural revolution in India focused on the large-scale cultivation of lavender, especially in the temperate region of Jammu & Kashmir. 

It was launched by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology in 2016 through the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Aroma Mission.

Purple Revolution Objectives

Under Purple Revolution, farmers are encouraged to shift from traditional crops like maize and wheat to lavender because it is more profitable, drought-resistant, and less prone to damage by pests or animals.

Under Purple Revolution, First-time producers were offered free lavender seedlings as part of the goal, and those who had previously produced lavender were paid Rs. 5-6 per plant.

Read about: White Revolution

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Purple Revolution Benefits

• Doubling Farmers Income : It helps in doubling farmers income as Lavender is a high-value crop with strong domestic and global demand. While traditional grains might yield a profit of roughly ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 per hectare, lavender cultivation can generate upto ₹3.5 to ₹6 lakh from the same area. Moreover the market for lavender oil in India is expected to expand at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 5.5 percent, while trade is expected to touch $1 billion per year. 
• Promote Crop Diversification : Enables shift from mono-cropping and low-productivity subsistence based agriculture to commercial aromatic farming, particularly in hilly regions
• Low Input, Climate-Resilient Farming : Requires less water, less fertilizers, and minimal pesticides. Moreover it is naturally resistant to pests and grazing animals. It can be grown even under cool and dry climatic conditions, making it a climate-resilient crop.
• Employment Generation and Rural Livelihoods : Creates employment in cultivation, harvesting, processing, packaging, and marketing sectors particularly significant for border and conflict-prone regions like Jammu & Kashmir.
• Development of Value-Added Agro-Industries : Promotes forward and backward linkages in agriculture. Encourages setting up of distillation units, perfume units, cosmetic and wellness industries. It shifts agriculture from raw produce to processed, branded goods.
• Reduce Import Dependence : India imports a significant quantity of essential and aromatic oils. Lavender cultivation supports import substitution by boosting domestic production.

Read about: Pink Revolution

Aroma Mission 

The Aroma Mission is a flagship initiative launched by the Government of India in 2016 through the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Its goal is to transform the lives of farmers by moving them from traditional crops to high-value aromatic crops like Lavender, Lemongrass, and Rosemary. It also aims to transform the aroma sector through scientific interventions in the areas of agriculture, processing and product development for fuelling the growth of aroma industry and rural development.

Under the Aroma Mission, the government helps farmers and rural entrepreneurs grow, process, and sell aromatic plants. It provides high-quality planting material, modern farming techniques, and training to cultivate crops like lavender, lemongrass, mint and vetiver. 

The mission also supports the setting up of distillation units so farmers can extract essential oils locally instead of selling raw produce cheaply. 

In addition, it helps with value addition, branding, and market linkages, ensuring better prices. Overall, the mission focuses on turning aromatic farming into a profitable rural livelihood while reducing India’s dependence on imported essential oils.

About Lavender Cultivation 

• Lavender is an aromatic plant valued for its essential oil. It is widely used in perfumes, cosmetics, medicines and aromatherapy.
• Climate: It grows well in cool to temperate climates with plenty of sunlight and low humidity.
• Temperature: Lavender grows best in moderate temperatures ranging between 15°C and 30°C. 
• Rainfall: Lavender requires low to moderate rainfall, ideally around 300–500 mm annually.
• Soil: It requires well-drained, sandy or loamy soil, as waterlogging can damage the roots.

Region: The crop requires less water and limited fertilisers, making it suitable for dry and hilly regions.In India, lavender is mainly cultivated in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and parts of the North-Eastern states.