The Advisors to Governor, K Skandan, KK Sharma and K Vijay Kumar Tuesday attended one-day state level workshop on “Cultivation and Utilization of Medicinal Plants” in Jammu and Kashmir State.
The workshop titled ‘State Level Workshop on MedicinalPlants and Other Non-Timber Forest Products’ was jointly organised bySher-e-Kashmir University of Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K) and J&KForest Department at SKAUST here.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor to Governor K Skandan saidmedicinal plants have been used in all cultures as a source of medicine. “Thereis a need for making the knowledge available to everyone and everybody shouldhave access to this knowledge,” the advisor told the workshop participants.
He said the dearth of knowledge on the identity andagro-technology of the plants was adding hurdles in medicinal plantcultivation. Advisor Skandan also pointed out that he always suggested theagriculture experts to develop a suitable application for farmers in locallanguage where a lot of intervention and interaction can happen so that afarmer gets to know through the app about the modern techniques and technology.He also suggest for the creation of institutional basis where a farmer can goin person and try to avail the benefits.
Advisor KK Sharma, who holds Science & TechnologyDepartment, highlighted that the human society was undergoing changes and theeconomic part of the society was shifting towards organic and natural sources.
Advisor Sharma said that from government’s side there is aneed for convergence among different departments like agriculture department,science and technology department, forest department and agricultureuniversities (SKUAST) where all departments would work together.
He said that the government and other organisations shouldwork on the strategies on how to take the medicinal plant cultivation down tothe village panchayats.
Advisor K Vijay Kumar, while addressing the workshop saidthat there was a need to have a possible market for farmers, ease of doingbusiness, the establishment of regional mandis and how would a farmer selltheir products if there are restrictions in place for the commercialisation ofcertain medicinal plant varieties.
Advisor Kumar, who holds Forest, Ecology & Environment,said the medicinal plant cultivation would change the economic scene of J&Kstate and will greatly contribute to its economy and wealth with employmentgeneration and livelihood.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K, Nazeer Ahmad, whilegiving the overview of the medicinal plants in J&K State, said medicinalplant species are gaining importance in recent years.
He also informed the workshop that 572 medical plantsvarieties are present in J&K of which two dozen are being used commerciallyfor high-grade drugs while generating a lot of income and livelihood.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Chief Conservator ofForests, Suresh Chugh said all the stakeholders are being called
and discussions were being held threadbare so that themedical plants cultivation would become a vibrant sector in J&K.