Training on 'Medicinal Plants Cultivation by Tribal'

Training on Medicinal Plants Cultivation for Tribal at Maannar Settlement , Karamadai Forest Range- 15th May 2009.

AIM for Sewa, Coimbatore, Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research (CTMR), Chennai and Jan Sikstan Samiti(JSS), Coimbatore joined together with the Tamilnadu forest department and organized a training programme on cultivation of commercially viable medicinal plants at Maanar tribal settlement near kilkundha of Karamadai forest Range. About 50 land owning tribal men and women took part in the training. A visit was also undertaken to the fields to examine the suitability of the land for cultivation of the selected species. Gymnema, Andrographis, Palmrosa, Tulsi, Bacopa and Henna. Suggestions were also made for growing medicinal plants as kitchen herbal garden and how to use them for common ailments. Shri. D.S. Raman of AIM for Sewa distributed saplings and assured free supply of seeds and saplings required for cultivation in 20 acres of land owned by as many tribal families. Mrs.Sundaravalli, Horticulturist of CTMR explained the agricultural practices- land preparation including manuring, Planting espacement, interculture, other care, harvest and post harvest handling. Dr.R.Sudha, Siddha expert explained the use of different plants and also about using them for health promotion and treating common ailment. Dr. T.Thirunarayanan of CTMR gave an insight into the commercial viability, the alternate income generation and prosperity it can bring to ensure sustainable livelihood for the tribal families living in the remote area. Mr.Dasan the range officer informed that the DFO has assured support for getting infrastructure to pump water from the streams and percolation ponds. Mr. Balasubramanian, Director of JSS has organized the training and also distributed books under the ‘Literacy for All’ project to two trained facilitators from the tribal community. A time bound programme is planned for cultivation and AIM for sewa will facilitate selling of the cultivated produce to three reputed user industries with which buy-back arrangement has been worked out.