CSIR-IHBT Organized a program for ‘Incense sticks and cones with waste flowers

Organized awareness cum demonstration program for ‘Incense sticks and cones with waste flowers’ was organized for Shri Sideshwar Co-operative Society at village Sidhbari Tehsil Palampur on 06.09.22 by CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur under the project “Floriculture Mission”. A group of around thirty women were trained and informed about Dhoop/Agarbatti industry, raw materials, local alternate raw materials, hand-making skills and machinery. The session mainly involved training on hand-made incense stick and incense cone products. Women were informed and given a practical exposure to basic raw materials used in the Dhoop/Agarbatti products. Further, women were encouraged to use local raw materials like Pine, Cedarwood, Juniper, Eucalyptus, Camphor, and temple waste flowers for Dhoop and Agarbatti making. In practical sessions, women were trained about ratio of various material used, what to use when, process of dough making, hand rolling skills, drying methods, and how to add fragrance. After training session, groups of women tried their own hand-in-hand rolling and stick-making skills. These training programs can empower the rural women, economy, and their skill development.