MANALI: The farmers of Kullu and Manali got tips from the scientists on how to identify, plant and grow the medicinal plants to increase their sources of income. These plants are slowly vanishing from the wilds due to unbridled underground trade.
According to the scientists, Mahameda, Karu, Atish, Vankakri and other medicinal plants are found in the higher valleys of Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Shimla, Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
From Churah valley in Chamba and Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu to Chanshal, Dodra Kuar and Choorhdhar in Shimla district, these plants are being extracted unscientifically and sold in the underground herbal markets by the herbal traders, informed locals.
But there is no “serious sustained effort” at encouraging the nearby farmers to cultivate these plants in their fields in a scientific ways in Himachal Pradesh.
In an initiative to this end, Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun came on board and organized a training programme for the farmers in association with National Medicinal Plants Board at Bhrundhar, Jagatsukh in Manali on Saturday.
Over an odd 20 farmers from Kullu and Manali who attended daylong programme got tips from scientists about the importance, use and cultivation of these medicinal plants in their fields.
These medicinal plants offer good income for the farmers if these are grown commercially in their orchards or fields.
Assistant Director General ICFRE Ajay Kumar explained and educated farmers about the medicinal plants of Himachal Pradesh at this camp.
He gave his scientific tips to the farmers and orchardists about the method of planting. The farmers can cultivate these plants as an inter-crop and by organic method, he said.
Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Dr. Jagdish Singh and Amar Chand Sharma, former Chief Conservator of Forests, HFRI gave the farmers detailed information about these plants.
