CSIR showcases purple revolution, electric tractor on Republic Day tableau

Team TTP

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) displayed its achievements in the field of agriculture and technology on its tableau at the 75th Republic Day parade on Friday.

The tableau, themed ‘Purple Revolution through Scientific Interventions of CSIR’, featured the success story of lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir, which has boosted the income and livelihood of the farmers in the region.

The CSIR developed an elite variety of lavender suitable for the temperate climate of J&K and provided free quality planting materials and end-to-end agro-technologies to the farmers. It also installed distillation units for extracting essential oil from lavender flowers, which sells for at least Rs 10,000 per litre.

The lavender products, such as perfumes, oil, incense sticks, medicines, soaps, and air fresheners, have also created a market for agri-start-ups and exports.

The tableau also showcased India’s first women-friendly compact electric tractor, PRIMA ET11, developed by CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur. The tractor is designed to reduce drudgery and enhance productivity for small and marginal farmers, especially women.

The CSIR tableau was an example of how scientific innovations can empower farmers, promote sustainability, and create new opportunities for rural development.

The CSIR is a premier research organisation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, which has been contributing to the scientific and industrial development of the country since 1942.