Report on

Educational Visit to Kisan Mela (CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow)

Date of Visit: 30^th January 2026

Organized by: Maharishi School of Agriculture & Maharishi School of 

                 Pharmaceutical Sciences in association with IQAC

Objective: An educational visit to the Kisan Mela at CSIR–CIMAP, Lucknow was organized by the Maharishi School of Agriculture (MSOA) and the Maharishi School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MSOPS), MUIT Lucknow Campus, in association with IQAC, on 30^th  January 2026 to provide agriculture students with practical exposure to medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing, while enabling pharmacy students to understand medicinal plant–based drug development and phytopharmaceutical applications.

Participating Students: B. Sc. (Hons.) Ag. II & VI Sem, and B. Pharma II & VI Sem

Visit Details: The students had the opportunity to observe live demonstrations of modern distillation units and learn about sustainable agriculture practices, particularly the integration of medicinal and aromatic plants into traditional cropping systems. They interacted with scientists, industry experts, and farmers to understand improved cultivation techniques and marketing strategies for MAPs. The event also included training sessions on preparing value-added products such as incense sticks, rose water, and eco-friendly cutlery from floral and aromatic crop waste. A book on Butterfly Diversity by Dr. Santosh K. Kedar, Scientist at CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow, was also released during the program. Additionally, students explored various exhibition stalls related to medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation, improved varieties and nurseries, sustainable and organic farming, plant protection, processing and value addition, phytopharmaceutical technology, and entrepreneurship, which helped them gain insights into recent developments in the field.

Pharmacy students got the opportunity to learn about the cultivation and importance of medicinal and aromatic plants, their role as natural sources of drugs, and their integration into pharmaceutical and nutraceutical product development. They gained insights into the preparation of herbal formulations, plant-based nutraceuticals, and the application of biotechnology in medicinal plant cultivation and improvement. The event also helped them understand various aspects of herbal drug manufacturing, phytopharmaceutical research, value addition of plant products, and the potential of agri-based pharmaceutical startups. In addition, students became aware of government schemes supporting medicinal plant farming, sustainable agricultural practices, and the importance of community and rural health awareness. Overall, the experience provided practical exposure by linking agriculture with pharmaceutical sciences, research, industry, and entrepreneurship. 

The Kisan Mela 2026 serves as a significant platform for knowledge exchange, enabling participants to stay updated on the latest advancements in the cultivation and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants. Throughout the visit, scientists and professors interacted with the students, explaining innovative concepts such as multiple cropping systems, smart fruit production technologies, and disease-resistant varieties. The programme was graced by Dr. Dheer Singh, Director, ICAR–NDRI, Karnal, as the Chief Guest and Dr. Thallada Bhaskar, Director, CSIR-AMPRI, as the Guest of Honour.

  The visit was coordinated by the faculty members– Ms. Pragya Tiwari, Assistant Professor (MSOA) and Mr. Aman Agrahari, Assistant Professor (MSOPS).

Students’ Feedback: Students found the visit engaging and informative. They gained hands-on exposure to modern practices in medicinal plant cultivation. Interaction with experts made learning practical, relevant, and future-focused.

Acknowledgement: The organising schools express their gratitude to Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Bhanu Pratap Singh, Registrar Dr. Girish Chhimwal, Dean Academics Dr. Neeraj Jain, Dean-MSOPS Dr. Pawan Kushwaha, Deputy Dean-MSOPS Dr. Nidhi Srivastava, Dean-MSOA Dr. Dheeraj Yadav, for their guidance and encouragement and Sr. AO (Dr. Rajesh Singh) for his support for the visit.