LUCKNOW, Feb. 1 -- Success stories of farmers reflected how CIMAP's intervention created a positive change in their lives. These farmers were part of two-day Kisan Mela - organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) at the institute - which concluded on Saturday. Over 4,000 farmers from different states of the country were part of the Kisan Mela on Day two. Nagendra Netam, 33, a tribal farmer from Bastar said that Aroma Mission led by CIMAP introduced them to aromatic plants like lemongrass and ways to cultivate using organic farming techniques. "The wasteland in which crops like wheat and rice could not grow was used to grow lemongrass. Once sown, the lemongrass will provide harvest for over five years. It was essential to grow even in areas with little or no water supply. Over 85 tribal farmers are working to cultivate lemongrass. We also extract oil and the institute has helped us connect with buyers in Raipur. The intervention helped Bambni, Malgaon, Neelji and Deorbal areas which were once considered a Naxalite area to become one of the agro-hubs," said Netam. Prem Parkash Singh, 43, another farmer from Basti shared how he began farming with only one acre of land which was left to only a bigha due to floods, to today which has expanded to over 100 acres where he now cultivates Vetiver. "The technical support is provided by CIMAP along with buyers. I am able to extract over 8-9 kg oil per acre. Today we provide employment to over 400 people," said Singh. There were several farmers who shared similar success stories on the occasion. N Kalaiselvi, director-general, CSIR and secretary, DSIR was present as the chief guest. She said the Kisan Mela resembled a Triveni Sangam, as farmers from all states, industry representatives, and scientists come together here. She suggested that the fair could aptly be called "Triveni Sangam." Ajit Kumar Shasany, director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, Haryana and Prabodh Kumar Trivedi director CSIR-CIMAP were also present. On the occasion, they released the book - 'Aush-Gyanya', Technical bulletin on using de-oiled aromatic plant residues as animal feed (joint publication of CSIR-CIMAP & ICAR-NDRI), Agrotechnology bulletin on management of lethal yellowing disease in citronella (MLC), new improved varieties: CIM-Haritima (citronella) and CIM-Nitya (Akarkara), Lemongrass Genome, Poppy Genome, and ceRNET 1.0 computational platform. They also launched CIM-Belpatra Body Lotion and CIM Flora Sol products....