APGAI for 60% aid to farmers in aromatic plants cultivation

Jammu, Aug 20 (UNI) The Aromatic Plants Growers Association of India (APGAI) today said Centre should provide 60 per cent assistance to the farmers for cultivation of herbal and ornamental plants, as this sector has the potential for socio-economic transformation of the country.

Talking to reporters here, APGAI President Thakur Randhir Singh said India should be declared as 'herbal country' as it has a large treasure of aromatic and herbal plants. ''China has taken lead in identifying the sector as a major contributor,'' he said.

Saying that the country has 16 different climatic zones, 10 vegetative zones, 15 biotic provinces besides vast treasure of aromatic medicinal plants, APGAI President said if utilised properly these advantages could take country's exports at Rs 20,000 crore, making it a global player.

At present, India's export is merely of Rs 345 crore, while that of China is Rs 24,000 crore and Thailand is Rs 14,000 crore, the APGAI President said.

The country has six crore hectares of waste land and out of this, half could be utilised for herbal cultivation, he said.

He also appealed to the small farmers, having small holdings of land to diversify to cash crops like herbs, floriculture, vegetables and cultivation of aromatic plants.

Mr Singh said the Association had planned to enroll 25,000 members in all the 27 states of the country in coming months to carry out awareness programme among the farmers about the benefits of diversification into to herbal farming.

He also appealed to the state government to declare Jammu and Kashmir as 'Herbal State' on the pattern of Uttranchal.

The herbal treasure in the state has a great potential for employment generation and socio-economic growth, Mr Singh said.

UNI RKS SBA/VJ BST1804