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Srinagar, May 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir can produce about 500 kg of Rose oil, which can fetch millions of dollars in foreign exchange, a senior state agriculture officer said today.

Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Ghulam Hyder Bhat said Bulgarian Rose oil distillation was being presently carried out at Allowpora in Pulwama district.

He said the Agriculture department has established a Bulgarian Rose garden over three hectares of land for the production of Rose and Lavender oil.

The production of planting material and its distribution among the farming community was also being undertaken by the department, Mr Bhat added.

He said about 50 hectares of land have been covered in the private sector by the agriculture department and 30,000 plants distributed among the farming community this year.

The Director said the department would set-up distillation units at district headquarters so that the farmers could avail of the facilities. Moreover, the agriculture department would soon purchase a mobile distillation unit, he added.

UNI