NMB sanctions herbal projects of Rs 8.73 crore to HP

Shimla, Mar 21 (UNI) The National Medicinal Board (NMB) has sanctioned projects estimated to be about Rs 8.73 crore to government, NGOs and farmers of Himachal Pradesh for encouraging herbal cultivation in the state, a senior state government official said.

Ten projects of Rs. 1.07 crore had been sanctioned for government and NGOs and 54 projects of farmers, costing Rs. 7.66 crore, under contractual farming scheme, Principal Secretary Indian System of Medicines and Homeopathy and Tourism and Transport Avay Shukla yesterday said, while inaugurating a two-day seminar on Herbal Business and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) of Ayurvedic drugs here.

The seminar was organised by the Department of Indian System of Medicines and Homeopathy and was sponsored by Department of Ayush and National Medicinal Plant Board.

Mr Shukla said Himachal was a rich repository of herbal plants due to its varied climatic conditions, which had provided an impetus to herbal cultivation in the state.

More than 2,000 MT herbal produce estimated to be Rs 10 crore were being marketed from the state annually, he said, adding that more than 66 per cent of the total geographical area of the state comprised of forest land which was the main source of herbal plants.

The principal secretary said 100 hectares of land has been brought under cultivation of medicinal plants in Kullu district alone under the Vanaspati Van Project being implemented in the state.

Under the project, the farmers were being encouraged to adopt inter cropping and inter plantation to strengthen their economy, he said.

He said the farmers should also be sensitised about quality of drugs and scientific exploitation of medicinal plants.

A Medicinal Plant Board has also been established in the state to assist the farmers in cultivation of medicinal plants, he said, adding that a Herbal Museum has been established at Jogindernagar in Mandi district to educate farmers about these plants.

Mr Shukla said Herbal Garden at Jogindernagar was being strengthened to cater to the needs of the growers.

Several senior state government officials were also present on the occasion.

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